AP SPECIAL STATUS

Demand

Special Category Status for Andhra Pradesh as per the promise made by Lawmakers in the parliament during State Bifurcation.

Basis

Following the bifurcation of the united state of A.P. the residual state lost a large part of its 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]

Legislative Status

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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 Vizagtaking the Center stage.

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. A number of Actors, including the Jana Sena Chief Pawan Kalyan supported the protesters, and also insisted that it be conducted in a peaceful way. The opposition political party of Andhra Pradesh, YSRCP and its chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy are the fore front of the protests. Jagan has also announced that his party MPs may resign and seek fresh mandate after the upcoming Budget session in June.^[5]

The communist Party of India also declared their support by holding a candle light rally demanding SCS for AP.

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.^[6]