Rahul Gandhi promises special status for AP Guntur, June 4 (INN): Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not implementing the promise of granting Special Status for Andhra Pradesh.
Addressing 'Pratyeka Hoda Bharosa Sabha' (Confidence-building meeting on special category status) in Guntur on Sunday evening, Rahul Gandhi said that the Special Status for AP was not a gift, but a right as per the assurance given by the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in the Parliament. However, he said Modi had gone back on this promise. He said at one side Modi tries to portray himself as a true Hindu. But on the other side, he conveniently forgot a promise which he made in the Temple Town of Tirupati. "What kind of Hindu Modi is who tells lies in Tirupati?" he asked.
Referring to TDP and YSR Congress Party, Rahul Gandhi said only two parties have not supported Sunday's meeting on Special Status. He said they must be under some kind of pressure from Narendra Modi for not supporting demand for Special Status for AP. However, he said several national leaders including former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav, Sharad Yadav (JD-U), S. Sudhakar Reddy (CPI), D. Raja (DMK) have attended the meeting and they would fight to get the Special Status. Stating that the Congress party was all set to return to power in 2019 elections and it would grant Special Status immediately after forming the next government.
Rahul Gandhi also accused Narendra Modi of not fulfilling the promise of giving 2 crore jobs. He said not even 1 lakh jobs were given by the Central Government during the last three years.
Akhilesh Yadav, Sharad Yadav and other leaders also announced their support for Special Status for AP. Akhilesh Yadav said TDP and YSRCP should bargain for Special Status for AP to support NDA's Presidential candidate.
News Posted: 5 June, 2017
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