New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has staged a day-long hunger strike protest in the national capital on Monday demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh and fulfilment of commitments made at the time of bifurcation.
The TDP chief is sitting for ‘Dharma Porata Deeksha’ (a day-long protest for justice) at the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in Ne Delhi from 8 am to 8 pm on Monday. He will also submit a memorandum to President of India Ram Nath Kovind on February 12, an official statement said.
“We are here to unite the nation, BJP is here to divide,” Chandrababu Naidu said.
“We are seeking justice. We are a part of the country. I am asking national media to show solidarity to us. It is our duty to remind him when he is not protecting dharma. We are suffering because of central government. We are here to unite the nation, the BJP is here to divide,” he added.
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Congress President Rahul Gandhi, opposition leaders Farooq Abdullah and Arvind Kejriwal have extended their support and will be visiting him at the Andhra Bhavan.
The chief minister is sitting on a hunger strike along with his ministers, party MLAs, MLCs and MPs. Members of state employee associations, social organisations and student organisations will also join the fast, it said.
Naidu has done 11 such fasts in various districts of AP and this one would be the first one to be held outside the state.
The CM also pied tributes to Mahatma Gandhi statue at Raj Ghat and will proceed to the AP Bhavan from there. Earlier in 2013, Naidu had staged an indefinite fast at AP Bhavan demanding equal justice to both regions. On the fifth day, he was shifted to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital owing to his deteriorating health. Last year too, he had observed a similar fast in April.
The Telugu Desam Party had walked out the BJP-led NDA last year protesting the “injustice” done to Andhra Pradesh after its bifurcation.