Amid tight security, the fast unto death launched by Andhra Pradesh Pratyeka Hoda Sadhana Samiti (APSS) at Anantapur demanding bestowing of special category status on Andhra Pradesh, entered day two. The fast has begun yesterday.
Massive police force has been deployed at the Clock Tower Center, the venue of ‘Fast’. APSS hon. president Chalasani Srinivas, movie star Sivaji, YSRC MLA Visweswar Reddy, former Anantapur MP Ananta Venkatrami Reddy, former MLA Gurnatha Reddy and scores of students from local Sri Krishna Devaraya University participated in the fast.
Addressing the gathering movie hero Sivaji accused union urban development minister Venkaiah Naidh of ditching Andhra people by his double talk and dubious politics.
He said Venkaiah Naidu had not worked seriously for getting special status to AP. Chalasani Srinivas warned Prime Minister Modi against taking Telugu people for granted. ” Modi should stop talking against the special status and implementation of assurances given to Andhra Pradesh at the time of bifurcation of the state. He dared PM Modi to visit Anantapur, Prakasam and Srikakulam districts to see how disappointed the people were with Modi.”
On Monday a lot of police force has been deployed at the venue which is just at a stone’s throw from General Post Office and BSNL office, which bore the brunt of anti-bifurcation movement. Before the division of the state, Samaikhyandhra movement was fierce at only two places, Anantapur and Vizag. The protagonists of the movement attacked the central government offices and torched some during the movement. it was feared in those days that the proposed bifurcation would do more harm to Rayalaseema and the students of the region were in the forefront in the Samaikyandhra movement to stop the division.
This agitational background of the region might be the reason behind the selection of the Anantapur as venue for the present Special Status fast unto death. APPHSS leaders might be under the impression that Anantapur again would tale the lead in the fight for Special Status.
However, somehow, the demand for special status has not snowballed into a people’s movement, in spite of YSRC ‘s attempts to rally people around the demand. YSRC president Jaganmohan Reddy’s sustained campaign has not spurred the people into organizing themselves into a Telangana-like movement with widespread participation across all walks of life.
Associations of government employees, teachers, who played key role in the Samaikhyandhra movement then are conspicuous by their absence in the present movement. Even the APPHSS is not able to acquire the representative character like Telangana political JAC led Prof Kodandaram. Students do not seem to have greatly appreciated the need to have special status to AP. So far, there have been no reports from anywhere in Andhra Pradesh about people taking up fasts expressing solidarity to Anantapur’s fast, barring press-statements.
Why has there been no enthusiasm about special status except among the members of APPHSS, YSRC and Congress, Do youth and people feel something else is more important for their life rather than
the investor-centric special status?
