YSR Congress continues protest in Lok Sabha for special status to Andhra

YSR Congress members on Thursday continued for the fourth day their protest in the Lok Sabha over the issue of granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh.

As Question Hour began, the YSR Congress members left their seats and trooped in front of the Speaker's podium, raising slogans.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan requested them to return to their seats but to no avail.

"Everyday, this is not fair. You please go back to your seats," Mahajan told agitating YSR Congress members, who also raised the issue during Zero Hour.

YSR member Y.V. Subba Reddy said: "The government had promised to grant special status to the state but so far no decision has been taken in this regard."

Earlier in the day, the party members protested in the Parliament House complex over the demand, gathering in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue and displaying placards in support of their demand.

During the first two days of protest, members of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a NDA constituent, also supported the protest, joining the YSR Congress members in front of the Speaker's podium.

However, following assurance on Tuesday by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.N. Ananth Kumar, TDP members have avoided gathering at the Speaker's podium or raising anti-government slogans.

TDP leader and Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Y.S. Chowdary on Tuesday told reporters that his party will maintain a "wait and watch policy".

--IANS

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