Return of Special Status politics: Andhra Bandh on August 2
FollowThe YSR Congress has called for a state-wide bandh in Andhra Pradesh on August 2, in the wake of their protest to revive Special Status politics.
YSR Congress has alleged that BJP and TDP colluded in denying the special status to Andhra Pradesh and called upon people to observe state-wide bandh in protest.Â
The protest was called following the debate in Rajya Sabha, over the private member's bill on the subject moved by the Congress member Dr KVP Ramachandra Rao. The debate on the bill ended on Friday yielding nothing.
Congress is expected to announce it's program of action later.Â
Replying the debate, finance minister Arun Jaitley said, the special status to AP was not possible technically following the recommendations of 14th finance commission. Special status demand has become a convenient tool for all political parties to hit at the rivals. The case is similar Andhra Pradesh, Â which enjoys unanimous support from all sides sans unity.
YSR Congress leader Jaganmohan Reddy went on indefinite hunger strike, addressed rallies and dharnas in Andhra Pradesh and New Delhi, while Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi launched Congress program from a remote village in Anantapur district by undertaking a 15-km padayatra in June 2015.Â
Later, Congress got a memorandum signed by a crore people to be submitted to the president of India.Â
Similarly, CPI and CPM Â have also been demanding the special status.Â
Not to lag behind the ruling TDP also demanded the special status to Andhra Pradesh. Â However, Jagan pushed the issue to the back burner when police foiled his fast unto death in Guntur last year.Â
Congress also hit the dead-end after its campaign for one crore signatures.Â
Naidu came to a conclusion that special status was no Sanjeevani. Against this backdrop, KVP's private member bill reignited the debate on the demand, which has enabled Jagan to summon his courage for the lost cause.
However, instead of waging a united fight, all political parties have been using the demand only to blame the other parties as responsible for not support the Special status.
 After the Rajya Sabha debate, chief minister Naidu addressed the media in Vijayawada and squarely blamed BJP and Congress for the unscientific division of Andhra Pradesh.Â
He alleged that Congress walkout was irresponsible.Â
"It was BJP which demanded special status for ten yeas. Now it is backing out. Similarly, the Congress failed to incorporate the special status in the AP Reorganization Bill, 2014" said Naidu.
Also, the YSR Congress has alleged that the TDP’s prolonged silence on the issue and its continued alliance with the BJP had harmed the state interests.
"Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu’s remark that the Special Status is not a ‘Sanjeevini’ has weakened the people's efforts to mount pressure on the Centre," Jagan said addressing media on Saturday.
