Oppn flexes muscle at Naidu’s fast
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's fast to demand special status for the state, here on Monday, turned into a show of strength for the opposition parties, which attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for subverting India's democracy and federal structure.
Prominent opposition leaders, including Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the venue of fast at the Andhra Bhavan here and endorsed the special status demand.
While Shiv Sena, a BJP ally, sent Sanjay Raut (MP), Shatrughan Sinha (BJP MP) and former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha also visited the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief.
Leading his party's charge, Gandhi accused Modi of lying about granting special status to Andhra Pradesh and said the Prime Minister was left with no credibility. "Modi lies wherever he goes. He went to Andhra Pradesh and lied about special status. He has absolutely no credibility left," said Gandhi and also raked up the Rafale deal.
Speaking on the occasion, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanded the Modi government fulfil the promise of special status to Andhra without any further loss of time.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Kejriwal called Modi a "world famous liar" and accused him of behaving like a Pakistani Prime Minister to subvert India's federal structure.
"The PM at least thrice declared he would give special status to Andhra. He is world famous for lying. Whatever he says, he never fulfils," Kejriwal said.
Attacking Modi over the CBI's showdown with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Kejriwal accused him of behaving like a Pakistani Prime Minister.
Batting for opposition unity, Naidu accused the Centre of betrayal on the special status and claimed there is a threat to democracy and the country under the Modi regime.
Meanwhile, TDP claimed that the party has not endorsed any anti-Modi posters at the venue of the ongoing protest at Andhra Pradesh Bhawan. "We don't endorse
it. It is not correct and it should not be done. It must not have been put by our party people," TDP MP Jayadev Galla told ANI.
Later, the posters which read: "In whose hand the used teacups were supposed to be given, people gave him the country" were removed from the venue of the dharna.
Andhra man commits suicide: A physically challenged man from Andhra Pradesh allegedly committed suicide on Monday near the AP Bhavan where Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu undertook a 12-hour fast demanding special category status to the state.
The man, identified as D. Arjun Rao (40), a native of Srikakulam district, was found dead on a wheel-chair. The police shifted the body to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. The man was suspected to have consumed pesticides.
Naidu said the man had come to the national capital on its own. He announced Rs 20 lakh ex-gratia for the family of the deceased and declared that his last rites would be performed with official honours.