NEW DELHI: NDA partner TDP and opposition YSR Congress virtually joined hands in Lok Sabha on Monday to demand special category status for Andhra Pradesh. As soon as the House met, members of the YSR Congress trooped into the Well holding placards and raising slogans seeking special category status for Andhra Pradesh.
Members of BJP-led ruling alliance partner TDP also stood in the aisles with larger placards and raising similar slogans. Despite repeated reminders by the Speaker that placards are not allowed, members of the two parties continued to show banners and raise slogans throughout the Question Hour, which continued even during Zero Hour too. TDP is unhappy with the central government for not providing the desired funds to the state after Telangana was carved out of it.
The fissures between BJP and TDP are being seen as so serious that there is speculation that the party led by N Chandrababu Naidu could even walk out of the NDA. Earlier TDP has decided to seek Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention for granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh, saying they are "life and death" issues for the state.
The TDP also decided to launch protests to build pressure on the Centre over implementing the AP Reorganisation Act "in letter and spirit" and special status issues even as a party MP JC Diwakar Reddy targeted PM Modi and said "divorce" between the two NDA partners was inevitable sooner than later.
The Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party (TDPP) at an emergency meeting decided to organise "Japanese-style" protests, party President and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said, adding their demands were "life and death issues" for the state and its future.
"We have waited with hope for two years. If the Prime Minister can spare two hours, the problems can be solved." Addressing a press conference at the end of the TDPP meeting, Naidu once again targeted Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and also lashed out at the Centre for trying to "shirk" its responsibility over issues concerning Andhra.
"What is our mistake that you are doing such injustice to us (AP)? You have no authority to do injustice to us. We are part of India and we are paying every tax, contributing to your (enhanced) income," Naidu told the centre.
The BJP, that supported AP's bifurcation, had "much more responsibility" (in implementing the Act and granting special status). It can't escape from it," he asserted.
"With all my political experience I am requesting. Our MPs will meet the Prime Minister and take up these issues and based on his response we will chalk out our future course of action," the TDP chief said.
