Former PM Deve Gowda Supports Demand for Special Status to AP

Vijayawada: Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Sunday lent his support to the demand of granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh, asserting it’s the Centre’s responsibility to honour the commitment made in Parliament.

He was here on a private visit with his wife and worshipped Goddess Kanaka Durga, the presiding deity of Vijayawada. “The Centre is bound to honour the commitment made in Parliament. Though it was a commitment made by the previous government, the successor should honour it,” he said. Asked about Pawan Kalyan, the Jana Sena founder who took up the fight for special status, he said, “Kalyan is a young man full of energy. No need to suspect his ability to secure special status to the state.” About the recent meeting between Kalyan and his son Kumaraswamy Gowda, the former Prime Minister said it was purely to discuss some film related issues and no politics was discussed.

Earlier, Deve Gowda offered prayers at the famous Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy temple in Bhadrachalam in Khammam district of Telangana. Temple priests and officials welcomed Gowda and his wife with traditional honours on their arrival at the shrine.

PTI