AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and his ruling TD leaders have made a mockery of the one-day “Dharma Porata Deeksha” purported to have been undertaken for the cause of Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh.
While Chandrababu Naidu undertook the deeksha at the municipal stadium grounds in Vijayawada along with hundreds of his party cadre, his cabinet colleagues organized similar “events” in various district headquarters. Though the occasion was intended to highlight the failure of the BJP-led Central Government in fulfilling the promises made like according Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh, it was utilized more for showering praises on Chandrababu Naidu and his able administration.
Since it was also the birthday of Chandrababu Naidu, TDP leaders not only at Vijayawada but at other venues, instead of giving vent to their concern and protest for denying the SCS to the state, utilized the occasion to praise the Chief Minister for his sacrifices.
As a matter of fact hunger strikes, dharnas, rallies and other forms of protests have become the order of the day in the state on the issue of SCS. Students including girl students, employees and others from different walks of life organized various forms of protests braving the blazing summer heat. Thus the TDP-style of protest in the name of ‘Dharma Porata Deeksha” under fully covered shamianas and fitted with air-coolers and pedestal fans, has turned it into yet another form of publicity stunt rather than a fight for a cause. (NSS).