Vizag gets ready for another showdown

Visakhapatnam: The city is getting ready for another showdown for the Special Category Status (SCS), after the peaceful protest at RK Beach on the Republic Day was foiled by the police.

Andhra Pradesh Special Category Status Sadhana Committee convenor Chalasani Srinivas said that he along with G Satyanarayana Raju, nephew of legendary freedom fighter Alluri Seetarama Raju and students from 11 varsities across the State will sit on a fast from February 9 to February 12 at Mahatma Gandhi statue near RTC Complex demanding Special Category Status.

Talking to reporters, here on Tuesday, Srinivas said, “Police and the State government officials had said that they would allow peaceful protests at RK Beach other than January 26 and other important ccasions.

But when the committee
applied for permission for a protest hunger strike programme at R K Beach, the police denied permission. This is nothing but the State repression.”

Chalasani Srinivas, who is also the founder president of AP Intellectual Forum, appealed to all sections of the region to join him in the fast. Rao also appealed to Jana Sena leader and actor Pawan Kalyan, Opposition leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and APCC president N Raghuveera Reddy to express their solidarity and join them.

He pointed out that the State of Andhra Pradesh suffered heavy losses due to bifurcation. The people right from Srikakulam to Hindupur, need the Special Status to grow and come on par with people in other South Indian States.

“If all political parties, setting aside their flags join the agitation, the Central government will be forced to accord Special Status and the railway zone,’’ Srinivas said.