VIJAYAWADA: Advocates of the Bezwada Bar Association (BBA) abstained from duties at the courts on Friday, demanding Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh. The Bar Association members urged the people to come forward and build a massive agitation irrespective of their political affiliations.
Speaking to the media, the advocates said that the Central government’s response towards requests for according SCS to Andhra Pradesh was unacceptable. “All advocates of 149 Bar Associations across 13 districts abstained from their duties on Friday. We would build a movement forcing the Central government to rethink on its stand on the issue,” said BBA president Ch Manmadha Rao.
The advocates pointed out that after state bifurcation, Andhra Pradesh was left with deficit budget and without basic infrastructure for administration including Raj Bhavan, High court and Assembly.
Calling the lukewarm response from public to bandhs and other protest programmes as a dangerous sign, they said that awareness should be created among people about the need for special category status failing which the Centre might continue to abstain from granting it to Andhra Pradesh.
“It is the only option for us to develop the State with 90 per cent of funding from the Central government in the form of grants. It can also attract industries, corporates, and several other development activities,” said state bar council member Sunakara Rajendra Prasad.