‘Rahul will announce SCS in Tirupati’

The Congress party on Thursday said it would bring AICC president Rahul Gandhi to Tirupati to add credence to its promise to accord the Special Category Status, when it comes to power.

APCC president N. Raghuveera Reddy said as a true national party, it would always explore all possibilities before making a promise and then go to any extent to keep its word. Bringing Mr. Rahul to make the announcement is seen as a counter to how Narendra Modi, as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate in 2014, promised the SCS right at the foot of the Tirumala hills. “Mr. Modi went back on his word, but we will not,” he said.

Mr. Reddy sat on a demonstration here along with senior leaders J.D. Seelam, C. Ramachandraiah and Chinta Mohan, women’s wing leader K. Prameelamma and farmer leader Mangati Gopal Reddy to extend solidarity to city unit president Polakala Mallikarjuna, who undertook hunger strike for 48 hours in support of the SCS.

‘First victory’

The PCC president called as the “first victory” the change of tune by the TDP, which had initially rubbished the SCS in favour of special package and now toeing the Congress line for the tag.

“The final victory will be cherished this year if Modi announces SCS or in 2019 when Rahul Gandhi offers it as the next Prime Minister,” he said. “The ruling TDP-BJP combine misled the public with lies like no mention of SCS in bifurcation bill, 14th Finance Commission ruling out SCS etc. Under the banner “Satyameva Jayate,” our cadre will take the party’s stand to the public on how the NDA hoodwinked the State.”

Madanapalle ex-MLA Shajahan Basha, DCC president K. Venugopal Reddy, official spokesperson D. Rambhupal Reddy and PCC member Nainar Srinivasulu were present.