Centre stabbed people by denying special category status to Andhra Pradesh: Pawan Kalyan

Vijayawada: Telugu film star and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan on Friday hit out at the Centre, saying it “stabbed” people of Andhra Pradesh in the belly by denying special category status to the state. [caption id=“attachment_2998076” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Pawan Kalyan. CNN-News18[/caption] “The Congress stabbed (the people of AP) in the back (by dividing the state) and when we sought justice, BJP stabbed in the stomach,” Kalyan said addressing the Andhrula Atma Gourava Sabha (Andhra’s self-respect) rally in Kakinada town this evening. The two national parties created instability in the two states (AP and Telangana), Kalyan alleged and demanded that they apologise to the people. “You could not do justice either to AP or Telangana. You denied special status to AP and could not even give a High Court to Telangana,” he pointed out. AP people had been seeking special status to the state but after keeping them in hope for over two years, the Prime Minister finally thrust two stale laddus in their hands. Recalling that BJP passed a resolution in 1996 in Kakinada favouring division of Andhra Pradesh, Kalyan said it was not honouring the commitment (to grant special status) made in Parliament. “Doesn’t the commitment made by all parties in Parliament hold any value? Is your party resolution greater than the Constitution or Parliament?” he asked BJP, adding that it should feel ashamed of itself. This was Kalyan’s second public meeting after the one in Tirupati late last month. The 45-year-old actor, who supported the TDP-BJP combine in the 2014 elections, vowed to fight till AP was granted special status as promised. On Wednesday, the Centre announced a financial package for Andhra Pradesh that include full funding of Pollavaram irrigation project, tax concessions and a special assistance, but stopped short of giving the state a special status.