PIL moved in Hyderabad HC over special status to Andhra Pradesh

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Hyderabad High Court asking the court to direct the Centre to accord Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh, and implement the provisions of the AP Reorganization Act, 2014. 

The PIL was filed by Poluri Srinivasa Rao, an agriculturist from the state's Prakasam district.

According to reports, the petitioner also asked the court to direct the authorities in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to ensure that the proceedings are conducted smoothly, without adjournments. 

Pointing out the promises made by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the floor of the House, during the state's bifurcation, the petitioner said that current Vice-President  M. Venkaiah Naidu and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had a moral and legal obligation to fulfill the promises that were made. 

Earlier this week, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu lashed out directly at Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the state's Legislative Assembly.

Naidu, who said that he wanted to remind the PM of the promises he made before the 2014 Lok Sabha election, played clips of speeches that Modi had given in the state.

In a meeting in Tirupati in 2014, Modi had assured the people that the BJP-government, if voted into power, would not only grant SCS but also extend it.

Another video played by Naidu, showed Modi attending the foundation stone laying ceremony at Amaravati in 2015, where he assured the public that all the promises made in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, would be fulfilled by the Central government.

“As the CM of this state, I am asking questions to the PM, and demand answers from him. I'm demanding answers from you. I'm asking for justice from you. The BJP is cheating the state for temporary political benefit, but this kind of strategy is harmful to the country. Instead of taking up the no-confidence motion, Parliament is being adjourned every day," Naidu told the Assembly, after the clips were played.

Naidu will also visit New Delhi in the first week of April and meet representatives of several political parties and discuss his state's demand of being granted special status.