VISAKHAPATNAM:Demanding that the NDA government accord special status to Andhra Pradesh, APCC has launched a protest with one crore SMSes here Wednesday.
A large number of Congress party leaders led by APCC president N Raghuveera Reddy sent SMSes to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu, P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Nirmala Sitaraman and Srujana Chowdary at the Andhra University campus, and called on the people to send SMSes to the ministers as well demanding special status for the State.
Speaking on the occasion, Raghuveera Reddy alleged that the TDP government is maintaining double standards on the issue of special status. Instead of bringing more pressure on the NDA government to accord special status to the State, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is more keen on seeking their help in clearing his name in the cash-for-vote case. Both the BJP and TDP are cheating the people of Andhra, and the State would face major troubles if it is not given special status, Reddy stated.
Later, a group of Andhra University students interacted with the Congress party leaders. Though Raghuveera Reddy answered the students on various issues, he ran into trouble when some students questioned the strategies used and practices followed by the Congress party during state bifurcation.
NSUI state president Rajeev Rathan presided over the event which was attended by a large number of students.