New Delhi, Feb 11 (UNI) Extending support to the demand by the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, leaders of various opposition parties on Monday visited Mr Naidu, who is sitting a day long hunger strike in the National Capital.
Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’ Brien, DMK leader T Siva, Loktantrik Janata Dal Sharad Yadav, National Conference Leader Farooq Abdullah, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh visited and extended support to Naidu at Andhra Bhavan.
“The promises, especially the Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh, that have been made by government of India at the time of reorganisation of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, must be granted”, said the former Prime Minister.
Dr Singh also said that whenever he gets opportunity in Parliament, he stands by the people of Andhra, adding that the promises should be implemented without any delay.
Addressing the gathering Mr Kejriwal said the way the Chief Minister and thousands of people of Andhra Pradesh had to come to Delhi to protest, it raises a big question on federal structure of country.
He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the act by the CBI in West Bengal last week and said, “Mr Modi sent 40 CBI officers to arrest Kolkata Police Commissioner to send a message to all states' police and bureaucracy that they should not be loyal to state governments, but the Centre”.
Congratulating the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for the fight, Mr O’Brien said that the TMC had started the fight four years back and added that “but there is a very important date - July 20, 2018 - when TDP brought in 'No Confidence Motion' in Lok Sabha. This scared Modi”.
Earlier in the day, Mr Gandhi made a scathing attack against the Prime Minister and said he ‘facilitated the Rafale loot’ to help Anil Ambani.
“I stand with the people of Andhra Pradesh. What kind of a Prime Minister is he? He did not fulfill the commitment made to the people of Andhra Pradesh. Mr Modi, tells a lie wherever he goes. He told people of Andhra Pradesh that he will give Special Category Status, he goes to North East and he tells a lie there, he goes to Maharashtra, he tells a lie there. Mr Modi has absolutely got no credibility left”, he had.
Referring to the media reports which claimed that the Modi government waived off the anti-corruption clause from the Rafle deal before it signed the inter-governmental agreement with France, Mr Gandhi said, “The Prime Minister became Prime Minister by saying he is going to fight against corruption. Did you read today’s Hindu newspaper? Yesterday’s paper? The ‘chowkidar’ stole money from the people of Andhra Pradesh and gave to Anil Ambani”.
Mr Naidu on Monday began his day-long hunger strike 'Dharma Porata Deeksha' against Modi government demanding Special Category Status to the state.
UNI KNA SB 1444