YSRCP Dharna For Special Category Status To AP: A Roundup 

Amaravati: With a view to intensify the protest demanding Special Category Status (SCS) to the state of Andhra Pradesh, the principal opposition party YSR Congress Party has launched protest programmes across the state. It may be recalled here that YSRCP chief and Leader of the Opposition YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had given a call to launch protests on a phased manner to achieve SCS. As part of it, the YSRCP leaders staged a dharna in front of all the district collectorates in the state today.

Following the protest call given by YSRCP chief the party functionaries, leaders and general public participated across the state and took part in dharnas in front of 13 collectorates. The party president has called of his walkathon today following the dharna programme. In fact he is monitoring the activities of the state party cadre from his camp office. Here we present the round-up of the protest programmes held by YSRCP cadre in all the districts of the state:

In Kakinada town the YSRCP party workers under the leadership of YSRCP Peddapuram Co-ordinator Thota Subbarao expressed their anger over state not pressurising the centre to give SCS to AP in a very novel way, a bike rally was organised in the town and many YSRCP supporters and general public participated in the protest.

In Vijayawada, the dharna was held peacefully with YSRCP leaders, workers and people actively taking part in the programme. YSRCP leader Parthasarathy and Malladi Vishnu alleged that Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is adopting double standards on the SCS. Recalling how Chandrababu has been playing safe on this concern, the YSRCP leaders said that the CM is making all out efforts to fizzle out the issue.

In Vizianagaram, a massive protest programme was held in the town under the leadership of senior YSRCP Leader Botcha Satyanarayana. Speaking to media persons, Botcha said the SCS is the right of people of Andhra Pradesh. People would teach a stern lesson to the TDP government at a right time, he said.

At Kurnool district collectorate, YSRCP leaders and party functionaries staged a massive dharna demanding SCS to Andhra Pradesh. YSRCP district leaders participated in the protest programme in large numbers including Bugguna Rajendranath Reddy, Saiprasad Reddy, Balanagireddy, Izaiah, Gauru Charitha Reddy, Mekapati Gautham Reddy, Silpa Chakrapani Reddy, and BY Ramaiah.

In Guntur, senior YSRCP leader Umareddy Venkateshwarlu, MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, Janga Krishnamurthi and other important party functionaries took part actively in the protest programme. Speaking to media persons, Umareddy Venkateshwarlu said that Chandrababu had become a puppet at the hands of centre. Chandrababu had mortgaged the SCS with the centre, afraid of his vote-for-note case, he observed.

At Ongole district collectorate, Balineni Srinivas Reddy, Markapuram MLA J Venkat Reddy were among several other YSRCP leaders, in-charges and party workers who took part in the dharna. They all were demanding for SCS to the state and mentioned that it was lifeline for the future of AP and its people.

In Srikakulam, YSRCP leaders and party workers actively took part in the protest programme demanding the SCS for the state. Leaders Dharmana Prasada Rao, Thammineni Sitharam, Reddy Shanthi, Dharmana Krishnadas, MLA Kambala Jogulu, Gorle Kiran Kumar, Sidhiri Appalaraju, Narthu Ramarao and Perata Thilak were among others who participated in the protest programme.

Demanding Special Category Status for the state, YSRCP leaders staged a dharna before Chittoor district collectorate. MLA Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, Thippeswamy including party leaders and functionaries gathered in the town in large numbers and actively participated in the dharnas.

At Nellore district collectorate, YSRCP leaders and party workers staged a massive rally. MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy, Nellore Parliamentary Constituency YSRCP president Kakani Govardhan Reddy, MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy, Anil Kumar Yadav, Kaliveti Sanjeevaiah, Ramireddy Prathap Kumar Reddy, former MLA Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy, Vanteru Venugopal Reddy, Nallapureddy Prasanna Kumar Reddy, ZP Chairman Bommireddy Raghavendra Reddy were among the important leaders who were present.

The party leaders took out a bike rally in Anantapur demanding SCS to Andhra Pradesh. Former MP Anantha Venkatarami Reddy, Hindupur Parliamentary Constituency YSRCP president Shankara Narayana flagged off the rally. The rally was organised under the direction of YSRCP Youth Wing president Alluru Sambasiva Reddy. MLC Vennapusa Gopal Reddy, Kapur Ramachandra Reddy, Kethireddy Venkatrami Reddy along with scores of party workers took part in the programme.

The YSRCP leaders and party workers staged a dharna before YSR Kadapa ZP office. Party workers from about 10 Assembly constituencies in and around YSR Kadapa district gathered in a large number extending support to the protest programme. MP YS Avinash Reddy, Kadapa Parliamentary Constituency YSRCP president Suresh Babu, MLA Srikanth Reddy, Srinivasulu, Amzad Basha, Rachamallu Prasad Reddy took part in the programme.

In West Godavari district, the party leaders and workers staged a dharna before Eluru district collectorate demanding the special status for the state. The protest programme was held under the leadership of Eluru and Narsapuram Parliamentary Constituency YSRCP president Alla Nani and Mudhunuri Prasad Raju. YSRCP Assembly Constituency Co-ordinators and party workers took part in large number.

In Visakhapatnam, the YSRCP leaders staged a mahadharna at GVMC Gandhi Statue demanding the centre to accord the SCS to Andhra Pradesh. MP Vijaya Sai Reddy were among several other leaders who attended the protest programme. As the city police denied permission for dharna at district collectorate, the programme was shifted to Gandhi statue near GVMC.