In yet another attempt to exert pressure on the Union government to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh, a group of activists have come together to form Pratyeka Hoda Sadhana Samiti (council for securing special status).
Around 100 members of the forum have collected blood and couriered it to the PMO saying this is a final warning to the Centre to fulfill its promise of granting the state special status. The government had made the promise in the Lok Sabha in 2014 when the AP Reorganisation Bill was adopted.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is already a worried man as the Centre has not kept its promise after the 29th state of Telangana was formed. Despite his several trips to Delhi, the Centre hasn't yet taken a decision on the issue.
The CM is also waiting for the funds from the Union government which had only allocated Rs 1,800 crore instead of Rs 16,000 crore to the state. Of this, only Rs 1,000 crore was handed over to the state citing revenue deficit.
The Opposition has already taken up the issue with YSRCP President Jaganmohan Reddy holding a relay fast in the capital to attract the attention of the Cente. Besides, Congress leader K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao had attempted to move a private bill in Rajya Sabha, seeking special category status to AP, but was not allowed to do so.