Parliament rocked by TDP MPs demanding special status to Andhra

TDP MPs also continued to protest in front of the Gandhi Statue in Parliament, where they could be seen chanting ‘We want justice’.
Parliament rocked by TDP MPs demanding special status to Andhra
Parliament rocked by TDP MPs demanding special status to Andhra
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Member of Parliaments belonging to the Telugu Desam Party continue to step up pressure to ensure that the promises made to them during the state’s bifurcation are met.

On Tuesday, the Lok Sabha was adjourned amid the ruckus. TDP MPs who stormed the well continued their fight for special status, while TRS MPs who also stormed the well demanded that the Constitution must be amended so that states must be able to decide reservations in jobs and education.

TDP MPs also continued to protest outside the Gandhi Statue in Parliament, where they could be seen chanting ‘We want justice’. Some of the placards they were seen holding read ‘Save Andhra Pradesh’, ‘We want steel plant at Kadapa’, ‘Implement AP Reorganisation Act Commitments Announce Railway Zone’, ‘Follow Alliance Dharma’, ‘We Demand Special Status for Andhra Pradesh State’ and ‘Keep your promises’.

Many MPs were seen holding the placards including Jayadev Galla, K Ram Mohan Naidu, Murali Mohan, Thota Narsimhulu and JC Diwaker Reddy. Congress MP KVP Ramachandra Rao was also seen along the TDP MPs.

The MPs reportedly gave adjournment notices to both Houses on Tuesday as well. 

The protest on Tuesday was a continuation of the protest on Monday, where both Houses of Parliament had to be adjourned after MPs started slogans asking for the demands of the state to be met. They gave adjournment notices in both Houses and demanded a discussion be held about the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.

The MPs decided to continue their protest on Tuesday after talks held with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley failed.

Andhra Finance Minister Y Ramakrishnudu, who led the TDP delegation, told reporters after the meeting that they stuck to their demand for special status. The party also insisted that the Centre should bridge Rs 16,000-crore revenue deficit and extend industrial incentives at par with other states.

The TDP has been demanding the Centre to fulfil all commitments made in at the time of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014.

The MPs said they have raised the demand for Special Category Status because the Centre failed to implement the special assistance measures it announced in September 2016 in lieu of granting special status. 

Andhra Pradesh has 19 demands that it wants fulfilled. 

After the Union Budget was released, Andhra CM Naidu was angered by the 'injustice' to his state in and said that he was ready to move a no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government, but only as a "last resort".

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