N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh at Andhra Bhawan, Delhi (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu (Above: Express Photo by Praveen Khanna) Monday began a day-long fast in New Delhi seeking special category status for the state as well as fulfilment of assurances given during its bifurcation. The Chief Minister paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat before heading to Andhra Pradesh Bhavan to observe the fast. A TDP delegation led by Naidu will submit a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday, party sources said.
The TDP parted ways with the BJP, its ally of four years, in March 2018, with Naidu citing denial of Special Category Status to the state — as promised under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 — as the reason. Since then, Naidu has emerged as one of the leading faces of the Opposition. Naidu has said that it is a matter of self-respect of Andhraites and that the Centre should fulfill the assurances made during the bifurcation of the state.
N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh at Andhra Bhawan, Delhi (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)
Chandrababu Naidu will march from Andhra Pradesh Bhavan to Rashtrapati Bhavan at 11:30 am tomorrow and is scheduled to meet President Ram Nath Kovind at 12:30 pm.
Bringing state issues on a central stage, a series of opposition leaders made a beeline for Andhra Bhavan, where Naidu staged his protest. Those who met Naidu included former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, National Congress chairperson Farooq Abdullah, NCP's Majeed Memon, Trinamool Congress' Derek O' Brien, DMK's Tiruchi Siva, Loktantrik Janata Dal's Sharad Yadav, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav. The last time the parties came together the same way was on January 19, when 22 opposition parties supported West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her agitation against the CBI's alleged misconduct.
TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will leave for New DelhiTuesday to participate in the mega rally of non-BJP leadersconvened by Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) on February 13 against the Narendra Modi government. She is likely to be in New Delhi till Thursday, a TMCleader said Monday."As per the schedule Banerjee will leave for New Delhi on February 12 and attend the opposition rally convened byAAP on February 13. She will also meet leaders of various opposition parties," the leader said.
The present Prime Minister & NDA govt, they are dividing the country. They are building a hatred campaign among people. Ultimately, they want political gain, but it can't be: Chandrababu Naidu at Andhra Bhawan
A differently-abled man from Andhra Pradesh, who was facing a financial crisis, allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison outside Andhra Bhawan here, police said on Monday. Davala Arjun Rao was a resident of Kinthali village in Srikakulam district. He had come to the national capital to participate in the day-long hunger strike by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, PTI reported.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav Monday extended support to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. "We all are with Chandrababu Naidu, who is sitting on day-long hunger strike in New Delhi," the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said in a tweet.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday extended support to her Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu over his day-long hunger strike in New Delhi. "Our party chief Mamata Banerjee has expressed her support towards Chandrababu Naidu's hunger strike. She asked our party leader Derek O'Brien to visit Naidu at the venue of hunger strike and express solidarity. The opposition stands united in the fight against the Modi government," a senior Trinamool Congress leader told PTI.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi at N Chandrababu Naidu's fast Monday. "A Prime Minister is Prime Minister of the nation, not of a party. The way he treats other political parties, it's like he is not the Prime Minister of India, but Prime Minister of Pakistan."
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi at N Chandrababu Naidu's fast Monday. "A Prime Minister is Prime Minister of the nation, not of a party. The way he treats other political parties, it's like he is not the Prime Minister of India, but Prime Minister of Pakistan."
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's daylong fast demanding special status for his state on Monday became a rallying point for various opposition leaders who visited the protest venue to back him and attack the Central government.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi, National Congress chairperson Farooq Abdullah, NCP's Majeed Memon, Trinamool Congress' Derek O' Brien, DMK's Tiruchi Siva and Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav were among those who met the TDP chief to express their support.
The TDP president is demanding that the Centre fulfil promises made during Andhra Pradesh's bifurcation in 2014 and alleges that Modi was not following 'raj dharma' by denying the state special status.
Opposition leaders extended their support to TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu's day-long fast at Andhra Pradesh Bhawan in New Delhi. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Trinamool Congress' Derek O'Brien were among those present.
"Chandrababu Naidu ji, I would like to congratulate TDP. We started this fight four years back but there is a very important date - July 20, 2018 - when TDP brought in 'No Confidence Motion' in Lok Sabha. This scared Modi. After that on Jan 9, 2019 SP-BSP came together. After that, what happened on Jan 19? On that day senior leaders of 22 political parties came on the same stage. Why am I mentioning these dates? Because after all of them, BJP got one new ally - CBI," ANI quoted O'brien as saying.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu launched into a tirade against the BJP-led central government on Monday, alleging Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not following 'raj dharma' by denying the state special status.
Naidu told the gathering that TDP founder NT Rama Rao had said "if somebody attacks your self-respect, teach them a lesson. So, we will not tolerate. We will give you a befitting answer".
The chief minister alleged that Modi was "unfit" to rule the country and that he went to Guntur in Andhra Pradesh "only to rub salt into our wounds".
"You think you can avoid us by sitting in Delhi. You're wrong. We will take help of friendly parties and achieve our aim," he said. The TDP chief alleged the BJP government unleashes central investigation agencies on rival parties if they fight for their rights.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh extended support to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu over the demand for special category status to the state.
"I stand in support of Naidu, special category status promise must be implemented without any further delay," he said, adding that "demand for special status had support of all parties when it was discussed in Parliament."
In February 2014, when Manmohan Singh was the prime minister, he had announced in the Rajya Sabha that special category status would be extended to the successor state of Andhra Pradesh comprising 10 districts, including four districts in Rayalaseema and three districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh, for a period of five years.
"The prime minister has stolen from the people from Andhra Pradesh and he has given that money to Anil Ambani. That is the fact of the matter," Gandhi said at the venue of the hunger strike in Andhra Bhavan. The government and Ambani have rejected Gandhi's allegations of corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal with France.
"Mr Narendra Modi, wherever he goes, he goes to Andhra Pradesh, he lies about special status. He goes to the North-East, he tells another lie over there. He goes to Maharashtra and he tells another lie over there. He has absolutely got no credibility left," Gandhi said.
(Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)
Present at TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu's fast against Centre, Congress President Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "facilitating loot".
"Every defence deal has an anti-corruption clause. The Hindu has reported that the PM removed the anti-corruption clause. It is clear that the PM facilitated loot," ANI quoted him as saying.
Rafale deal: Congress asks ‘Who was PMO protecting’ after report says govt waived anti-corruption clauses
The media report stated that the PMO had waived key provisions of the anti-corruption clauses days before the defence agreement was signed. Quoting The Hindu report, the Congress, on its official Twitter handle, asked: “Who was the PMO trying to shield? Who was the PMO trying to benefit?”
Congress President Rahul Gandhi at N Chandrababu Naidu's hunger strike: "I stand with the people of Andhra Pradesh. What kind of a PM is he? He did not fulfill the commitment made to the people of Andhra Pradesh. Mr Modi tells a lie wherever he goes. He has got no credibility left."
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed support to her Andhra counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu over his day-long hunger strike in New Delhi.
"Our party chief Mamata Banerjee has expressed her support towards Chandrababu Naidu's hunger strike. She asked our party leader Derek O'Brien to visit Naidu at the venue of hunger strike and express solidarity. The opposition stands united in the fight against the Modi government," a senior Trinamool Congress leader told PTI. Brien will visit Naidu, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief, around 12 pm, the leader said.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrived at N Chandrababu Naidu's one-day hunger strike against the Centre over special category status to Andhra Pradesh. National Conference's Farooq Abdullah and NCP's Majeed Memon are also present at the venue.
(Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)
(Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)
National Conference's Farooq Abdullah and NCP's Majeed Memon were present at the day-long hunger strike by Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu at Andhra Pradesh Bhawan
A number of opposition party leaders, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, National Conference's Farooq Abdullah and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, are expected to extend their support to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief's fast.
Naidu, who began a day-long fast at the Andhra Bhavan demanding that the Centre fulfil all promises made during AP's bifurcation in 2014, said Modi did not follow 'Raj dharma' in Andhra Pradesh.
"(Former PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee said 'raj dharma' was not followed in Gujarat (during the 2002 riots). Now, 'raj dharma' is not being followed in the case of Andhra Pradesh. We have been denied what is rightfully ours," PTI quoted him as saying. He alleged the central government did grave injustice to Andhra and it would have "repercussions on national unity".
At his one-day fast over special category status for Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu warned that Modi would be given a befitting answer if he made personal attacks against the people of his state. "On behalf of five crore people, I'm warning this government... I came here to remind you of the promises made in the AP Reorganisation Act," Naidu said.
"I am warning you. Don't make personal attacks against me and my people. It's unwarranted. I am just doing my duty as the head of my state. We are only demanding what we were promised," he said, adding if somebody "attacks our self respect, we will not tolerate it". The TDP chief said the party was denied permission to stage a protest in Parliament premises. "So, we came here".
Observing a fast over the special category status for Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said, "Today we came here all the way to protest against central government. Yesterday, PM visited Andhra Pradesh, Guntur one day before the dharna. What is the need, I am asking."
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu began his day-long hunger strike at the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi seeking special category status for the state as well as fulfilment of assurances given during its bifurcation.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had, on February 20, 2014, in the Rajya Sabha assured that Andhra Pradesh would be granted special category status. But the BJP, which came to power at the Centre in 2014, has been saying that the 14th Finance Commission doesn’t provide for such treatment to Andhra Pradesh.
Why Andhra Pradesh, Centre can’t agree on special category status
In its report submitted in December 2014, the Fourteenth Finance Commission redefined the financial relationship between the Centre and the states for the five-year period ending 2019-20. The Commission did away with the ‘special category’ status for states, except for the Northeastern and three hill states. The Commission stated that Andhra Pradesh would end up as a revenue deficit state, and recommended that the Centre provide a revenue deficit grant for the period of the 14th Finance Commission.
Having exited the NDA and after joining forces with parties opposed to the BJP, N Chandrababu Naidu is trying to be in public eye as much as possible. His protest by fasting on Monday is an attempt to be seen as a strong regional leader in the presence of leaders of non-NDA parties who will be attending the protest in Delhi. Back home, Naidu is on slippery ground as his TDP government has not been able to show much in the name of development in the past five years.
Chandrababu Naidu pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat
(Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)