Hyderabad: YSR Congress has said that Chandrababu Naidu has been keeping mum on the Special status to the State only to save his skin from the various charges he is facing and has been placing his personal interests ahead of people’s interests.
"Though Union Minister has categorically stated that the question of special status does not arise, TDP government is maintaining stoic silent and no tangible efforts are taken to persuade the issue. As the issue is in the interest of the people of the State we will take it up and fight relentlessly," party spokesperson Vasireddy Padma told reporters here on Sunday.
During the debate on the State Reorganisation Bill, BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu from the Opposition benches has sought the status for 10 years and TDP went a step further and demanded 15 years.
After the NDA coalition has come to power, all the oratory has melted away and the BJP leaders have categorically stated that the question of Special status does not arise. “There is no reaction in the required volume from the TDP and Chandrababu Naidu has soft-pedaled the issue telling that the statement does not apply for Andhra Pradesh.
There is no such assurance from the Centre matching the Chief Minister’s words and TDP leaders have tried to divert the topic asking for a financial package in lieu of the Special Status.
"Special Status is our right which will pave way for the development of the State and Chandrababu Naidu is playing it down to save his skin from the various cases, right from cash for vote to Godavari Puskhar tragedy to Pattiseema," she said.
"It is only a compromise to cover-up his irregularities that he is playing into the hands of the Centre but we will be unrelenting in our fight for Special Status," she said.
