Amaravati, April 14: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will observe a day-long fast on April 20 to protest the Narendra Modi-led Central government's refusal to grant special category status to the state.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President will be staging the protest on his 68th birthday to pressurise the Central government to fulfill all commitments made at the time of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014.
His announcement on Saturday came close on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's day-long huger strike on April 12 to protest disruption of Parliament.
"Is it not the central government which is responsible for Parliament not functioning smoothly," asked Naidu.
The second half of the budget session was washed out due to protest by various parties including the TDP, which sought to move no-confidence motion against the government after pulling out of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Naidu's decision to sit on fast came amid ongoing protest by various political parties in the state against the Centre for not fulfilling its promises.
At a meeting in Guntur district on Saturday, Naidu said there would be no compromise on the state's rights.
He also announced that a massive public meeting would be organized at Tirupati on April 30 with the slogan "save the state from betrayal and conspiracy", recalling that it was in the same temple that four years ago, Modi, as the Prime Ministerial candidate, had promised special status but did not fulfill it after coming to power.
Lashing out both at the BJP and the opposition parties YSR Congress and Congress, Naidu appealed to people to ensure victory of TDP on all 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state. "Tomorrow, the government at the Centre will be decided by TDP," he said.
He recalled that TDP played a key role in government formation at the Centre in the past. "We played a key role in the National Front, United Front and NDA-1," he said.
The Chief Minister was speaking at a meeting at Sakhamuru in Guntur district after unveiling the model of Dr B.R Ambedkar memorial park, proposed to be built at a cost of Rs 100 crore on 20 acres. Naidu said 125-feet tall statue of Ambedkar will come up in the proposed park, which will also have a research centre. He vowed to complete the project in 18 months.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Starc-inspired Delhi Capitals beat RR via super over
New Delhi, Apr 16 (PTI): A Mitchell Starc-inspired Delhi Capitals defeated Rajasthan Royals via the super over in their Indian Premier League match here on Wednesday.
Needing 12 runs in the super over, DC got them in four balls.
Asked to bat first, Delhi Capitals scored 188 for five.
In reply, Yashasvi Jaiswal (51 off 27 balls) and Nitish Rana (51 off 28 balls) scored brisk half-centuries to lead RR's charge before a brilliant final over by Starc took the game to the super over with the visitors finishing at 188 for four in 20 overs.
RR needed nine in the last over and Starc conceded only eight to stretch the game.
Earlier, the home team well served by Abhishek Porel's 37-ball 49 at the top of the order and even though KL Rahul consumed 32 balls for his 38, skipper Axar Patel (34 off 14 balls) and Tristan Stubbs (34 not out off 18) switched to top gear to help DC go past the 185-run mark.
Brief scores:
Delhi Capitals: 188/5 in 20 overs (Abhishek Porel 49, Tristan Stubbs 34 not out, Axar Patel 34, KL Rahul 38; Jofra Archer 2/32)..
Rajasthan Royals: 188/4 in 20 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 51, Nitish Rana 51).
