Special Status for Andhra Pradesh Protests

Protests for Special Status for Andhra Pradesh are public protests that started throughout the state of Andhra Pradesh on Jan 26, 2017 demanding for the 'Special Category Status' (SCS) which was promised to the state by the Congress Government during the state bifurcation.[1]

AP Protests for Special Status
One of the posters widely circulated in social media to gather people for protest
Date 26 January 2017 (2017-01-26) – ???
Location Andhra Pradesh, India
Caused by Not fulfilling the Promise made during AP State Bifurcation
Goals Special Category Status for AP
Methods Picketing, Sloganeering, Human chain, Silent protest, Demonstration, Internet activism,
Resulted in Yet to be Announced
Number
> 5000

Overview

Demand

Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh as per the promise made by Lawmakers in the parliament during State Bifurcation(to divide into two parts).

Basis

Following the bifurcation of the united state of A.P. the residual state lost a large part of it's revenue due to Hyderabad remaining as the capital of Telangana. In a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the A.P. Reorganisation Act on February 20, 2014, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that SCS would be "extended to the successor State of Andhra Pradesh for a period of five years." This oral submission by the then PM has been the basis for A.P.'s claim to the status.[1]

Time Line

Protests Demanding Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh was inspired by the 2017 pro-jallikattu protests in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. A Call to unite for peaceful protests on 26 Jan at various Locations all around the state was widely circulated on social media with RK Beach (Ramakrishna Mission Beach) in Vizag taking the Center stage. They have made a facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SpecialstatusforAP.org/ and twitter handle(SSSMP9) to maintain the momentum and authenticity. Facebook page Special status for AP is intensely campaigning about Special category status benefits and demolishing the doubts and myths on special package. As part of the campaign they have done facebook live video sessions, Videos and posts on special category status and A.P Reorganisation Act,2014.

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh spoke against the protests, and said that there was no need for it as the state can be benefitted with Special Package instead of Special Category.

DGP of Andhra Pradesh, N Sambasiva Rao told reporters that no permission was granted for protests at RK Beach on Jan 26.

Hours before the proposed protest on January 26 for demanding Special Status Category to Andhra Pradesh, AP police have clamped down on the gathering of five more persons by issuing prohibitory orders under Section 144 in Vizag, Tirupati, and other proposed protest Locations.[2]

Despite prohibitory orders scores of youth tried to reach RK beach in Vizag. Police quickly detained More than a 100 people.[3]

Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan, YSRCP Leader Jagan Mohan Reddy, and others expressed their distress on police action over a proposed peaceful protests.[4]

Supporters

The protests that gathered momentum on social media among students and youth just like Jallikattu Protests soon saw supporters from all quarters.

Protests

On 26 January 2017, activists staged silent protests in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, Tirupati, Nellore, Anantapur, Kakinada, Rajamundry and other places across the state. Mainly youths and students participated in the protests. Prior to the day of protest, the AP Government has issued prohibitory orders. Police arrested a large number of protesters across the state for violating the order.[5]

on 11 February 2018, Special Status for AP Page (https://www.facebook.com/SpecialstatusforAP.org/) given a call to show their protest to central government by writing a postcard to pmo office. A lot of people and many other organisations have taken up the call and sent letters to pmo office.

The demand of SCS for the state of Andhra pradesh is still not resolved and the BJP government seems reluctant to grant SCS to the residual state.

References

  1. 1 2 Ramani, Srinivasan. "What is the special category status?".
  2. ↑ "Andhra Pradesh DGP says no permission for silent protest at RK Beach".
  3. ↑ "Telugu Actor Among 100 Detained Ahead Of Protest Demanding 'Special Category Status' To Andhra Pradesh".
  4. ↑ Raghavendra, V. "Don't pull back those coming for jallikattu type agitation, says Pawan Kalyan".
  5. ↑ "Protesters arrested in Vizag, Andhra towns demanding special status for the state". Hindustan Times.
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