File Photo: YSR Congress chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy has announced indefinite fast in Guntur from September 15 to demand fulfilment of the promise of special category status made to Andhra Pradesh during state bifurcation last year.
"It has been 15 months since Chandrababu Naidu came to power (in Andhra Pradesh). The promise of special status was given by the then Prime Minister and also opposition in Rajya Sabha. It appears that it has gone into thin air. There is no answer when we asked when it would be implemented," he told reporters.
Noting that he already held a fast for two days on the issue in AP and also organised a protest in Delhi, Mr Reddy said he would take up the fast from September 15 to mount pressure on the TDP government.
Saying that the government should act before September 15, the YSRC president demanded that TDP withdraw its minister from the NDA government for "failing" to procure special status.
The promise of special status was made by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Parliament during bifurcation last year.
YSR Congress and other opposition parties in AP have been attacking the ruling TDP-BJP combine for not honouring the promise even 15 months after coming to power.
The issue gained momentum with some persons allegedly committing suicides in support for the cause of the special status for AP.
The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly today adopted a unanimous resolution urging the Centre to grant special status.