VIJAYAWADA: Tollywood actor and BJP leader Sivaji staged a novel protest -- ‘Jala Deeksha’ in Krishna river -- here on Monday, demanding that the central government should immediately accord Special Category Status (SCS) to the state as promised at the time of enacting the AP Reorganisation Act last year. He threatened to launch fast unto death if the Centre did not concede the demand.
Standing neck-deep in the river water at the Durga Bathing Ghat, Sivaji said it was a symbolic gesture to show that the state was already neck deep in financial trouble and that only the grant of SCS could bail it out.
Along with his followers, he stood in the river water for about an hour holding placards with slogans like ‘Mata Tappoddu - Andhranu Maravoddu’ (‘Don’t renege on the promise - Don’t forget AP).