Andhra CM calls for protests during Modi’s visit

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday asked members and cadres of his Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to stage protests during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state on Sunday.

Naidu, who is also the TDP President, told the cadres and party members during a teleconference calls that the protests, against the Centre’s “betrayal” to the state, should be organised on a scale that the whole country should take note of it.

Modi is scheduled to address a rally in Guntur. This will be his first visit to Andhra Pradesh after TDP snapped ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) last year.

The TDP chief, who will be holding a day-long protest in New Delhi on Monday, said protests should be organised with the spirit shown by Mahatma Gandhi.

The TDP chief alleged that Modi was coming to the state to see the destruction following the bifurcation in 2014.

“Is he coming here to see whether people are still alive?” Naidu had earlier remarked on Modi’s visit.

Naidu said there was a conspiracy to destabilise the state government.

Andhra hires 2 trains to ferry people for Delhi protest

The Andhra Pradesh government has hired two special trains to ferry people to New Delhi for Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s protest against the Centre on February 11, officials said on Saturday.

The General Administration Department has released Rs 1.12 crore to hire the trains with 20 compartments each from the South Central Railway.

According to the orders issued by the Department, the trains from Ananthapur and Srikakulam will transport leaders of political parties, organisations, NGOs and associations to the national capital to enable them to participate in the one-day ‘Deeksha’ (protest).

Both the trains would reach New Delhi by 10 a.m. on Sunday.

The protest is against the Centre’s refusal to grant a Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh and also its failure to fulfil other commitments made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

Naidu, who is also the President of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), has appealed to all, including opposition parties, to make the protest a success.

Leaders of non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parties are also expected to join Naidu in the sit-in.

The TDP had pulled out of the BJP-led NDA government last year.