Andhra Pradesh parties intensify status war, protest in Vijayawada, block highways

Intensifying a war demanding a special status, political parties in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday held a statewide peaceful protest in the support of party MPs' agitation in the Parliament.

Several state parties took to streets in Vijayawada demanding a special status and blocked the highways.

In a teleconference with MPs, MLAs, MLCs, in-charges and other party leaders, TDP Andhra Pradesh unit president K. Kala Venkatrao had asked them to sit on demonstration and protest meetings in major junctions of all constituencies.

On Wednesday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu had said he is ready to make any sacrifice for the development of the state.

Naidu, whose party, the TDP, quit the BJP-led NDA over the special category status issue, today called for a people's movement "till justice is done to the state." As a first step, the Chief Minister extended his government's support to the statewide 'National Highways blockade programme' called by the opposition parties, including YSR Congress, on the issue tomorrow.

"Let us all protest and, if required, sit on hunger-strike at every place, sport black badges during working hours in offices. Let us awaken the people," he said.

Two ministers of the TDP -- YS Chowdhary and Ashok Gajapathi Raju -- had quit their posts after the party pulled out of the NDA government over the special category status for Andhra Pradesh.

Both the TDP and YSR congress have moved notices for a no-confidence motion against the government.