Chandrababu Naidu sits on hunger strike in Delhi demanding special status for AP

Leaders of various non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parties are likely to visit the Andhra Bhavan to express their solidarity with Naidu, the Chief Minister's Office said.

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will undertake a day-long fast in Delhi on Monday, seeking special category status for the state and fulfilment of other commitments made by the Centre at the time of state's bifurcation. Naidu will begin the 'Dharma Porata Deeksha' at the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan at 8 a.m. after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief has been joined by his cabinet colleagues, MPs, state legislators, and leaders of students and employees groups and mass organisations. Also, several senior opposition leaders like Farooq Abdullah and Rahul Gandhi also extended support to Naidu via their presence. Speaking on the same, Rahul Gandhi took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, " What sort of a PM is NarendraModi who first made a commitment to grant special status of Andhra Pradesh and later backed out". Leaders of various non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parties are likely to visit the Andhra Bhavan to express their solidarity with Naidu, the Chief Minister's Office said.

#ChandrababuNaidu protest in Delhi: PM #NarendraModi is not left with any credibility after backing out from his commitment over granting #AndhraPradesh special status - Congress President #RahulGandhi

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) February 11, 2019

Even West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee extended support to Naidu's rally. "Our party chief Mamata Banerjee has expressed her support towards Chandrababu Naidu's hunger strike. She asked our party leader Derek O'Brien to visit Naidu at the venue of hunger strike and express solidarity. The opposition stands united in the fight against the Modi government," a senior Trinamool Congress leader said. A large number of protesters from Andhra Pradesh has already reached the national capital. The state government hired two special trains to ferry people to Delhi. Naidu will also submit a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind on February 12.

Delhi: National Conference's Farooq Abdullah and NCP's Majeed Memon at the day-long hunger strike by Andhra Pradesh CM & TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu at Andhra Pradesh Bhawan pic.twitter.com/V5dPnvarXM

— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2019

Delhi: Andhra Pradesh CM and Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu pays tribute at Rajghat. He is observing a daylong hunger strike here today against the central govt over the issue of special status to Andhra Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/jqlvtwYStn

— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2019

The Chief Minister has participated in 'Dharma Porata Deeksha' in 11 districts of Andhra Pradesh so far.