Hyderabad: In a major change in Telugu Desam Party’s strategy in its fight against the federal government, the regional party’s president N Chandrababu Naidu today asked all TDP Members of Parliament (MPs) to suspend their protest in New Delhi and return to their respective constituencies by tomorrow.
At a meeting of senior party leaders and the state minister in Amaravati, Naidu decided to take up the mass agitation programme in the state and organise various programmes in each of the 25 Lok Sabha constituencies.
The decision came after the Telugu Desam MPs created a stir in Delhi by staging a protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence. Delhi police took them into custody.
On Monday the MPs held a peaceful and silent protest at Rajghat, the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi, and protested against the attitude of Narendra Modi government.
Naidu, who also held a teleconference with the MPs expressed his happiness that the protest programme succeeded in bringing the issue of Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh to the notice of the people at the national level.
TDP has now decided to organise ‘Telugu Aatma Gauravam’ (Telugu self respect) Bus Yatra in every Lok Sabha constituency led by the respective MP. The party will also organise public meetings in every district to be addressed by Naidu. The party will also organise bicycle rallies in all the major cities and towns across the state.
The meeting also drew plans for various other programmes, specially aimed at reassuring the weaker sections including Dalits. The party and the state government will organise special programmes on April 11 and 14 marking the birth anniversaries of social reformer Jyotirao Phule and architect of Indian constitution Dalit Messiah Dr B R Ambedkar.
Meanwhile the hunger strike by the five MPs of YSR Congress party in New Delhi continued on the fourth day today. While three MPs M Rajmohan Reddy, Vara Prasad and YV Subba Reddy were shifted to hospitals as their health condition worsened, two others were still on hunger strike.
“Narendramodiji, the live of these MPs and the future of the people of AP are stake. Requesting you to please fulfil the promise you made to us on Special Category Status”, YSRCP President YS Jaganmohan Reddy tweeted.
Party patron and Jagan’s mother Vijaya Lakshmi visited the hunger strike camp in Delhi and met the party MPs. She also visited the hospitals and met the three MPs undergoing treatment.
Meanwhile Guntur Zilla Parishad Chairperson Shaikh Jaanimaa today sat on a hunger strike in Guntur to press the demand for special category status. She threatened that if the Prime Minister does not accept the demand she will launch fast unto death.
