Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday launched his day-long fast "Dharma Porata Deeksha" demanding justice for the state from the Centre, including the special category status.
On his 69th birthday, Naidu chose not to celebrate his birthday and sat on a fast instead to protest against the alleged injustice meted out to the state due to the "non-implementation" of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
Naidu began his fast in Vijayawada at 7 in the morning, after seeking the blessings of priests and religious leaders.
Meanwhile, thirteen ministers of Naidu's Cabinet are also organising simultaneous hunger strikes in the districts for which they are in-charge ministers. The fast is being held in all the 13 districts of the state.
The Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Centre have been at the loggerheads ever since the announcement of 2018-19 Union Budget. The TDP alleged that the Centre ignored the demand of 'Special Category Status' to Andhra Pradesh in the budget, while the latter brushed aside the charges.
