VIJAYAWADA: After exhausting all efforts to get the BJP-led NDA Government to grant Special Category Status to the State, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu now decided to observe one-day fast on April 20, which happens to be his birthday.
Announcing his decision at the birth anniversary celebrations of BR Ambedkar at Inavolu in capital city Amaravati on Saturday, he said the State suffered heavily after bifurcation, but the NDA Government had failed to do justice. “I will observe ‘deeksha’ in protest against the Centre’s attitude.”
It is learnt that Naidu will observe fast from morning to evening at the Bible Mission Ground at Acharya Nagarjuna University, where the TDP is going to hold ‘Dalita Tejam Telugu Desam’ on April 20. According to TDP leaders, Naidu may not disturb his daily official routine while observing fast.
Ridiculing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent fast against washout of Parliament session, Naidu said, “Who was responsible for the washout of the session? Was it not the Centre?”
He sought the cooperation of people in ensuring the victory of his party candidates from all the 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in the State in the next elections so that the TDP would be in a position to call the shots in formation of the government at the Centre and secure more benefits to AP.
Calling Narendra Modi a junior leader, Naidu said, “I became Chief Minister in 1995. But, Modi, who became CM in 2002 is trying to dictate terms to me and is conspiring to weaken the TDP by colluding with opposition parties.’’