Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has requested the Nation to support the cause and struggle of the 5 crore people of the State. “It is the responsibility of the nation to support AP to correct injustice done”, he requested. “Are we not paying taxesIJ Are we not part of Government of IndiaIJ You are riding on our taxes. You want only political power, but don’t implement promises made at the time of bifurcation. Don’t you have responsibility to support AmaravatiIJ Even if you don’t support, we will construct our Capital and will show you the power of Andhra people”, he warned.
He exhorted voters to give him support so that TDP could become kingmaker. “Give me 25 MPs. TDP will decide the Prime Minister,” said Naidu.
“I bowed my head before Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he came to ground breaking ceremony of Amaravati. Because, I thought, he will support AP. But, they cheated us and had secret understanding with corrupt persons to ditch the State”, he said. “We will not beg. We are bonded labour to Central Government. It’s our right. It’s our money. We will fight to any extent to get our rightful share in the funds”, he told. “You can’t divide Andhra People with your back stabbing politics. We know how to teach lessons to the cheaters”, he warned.
Indicating future struggle and mass movement against BJP, Chandra Babu Naidu, the 67 years old, has pledged and dedicated his life for the development of Andhra Pradesh on his birthday. “I will fight till justice is done to people of the State as promised in the Parliament”, and he declared, “I will not tolerate any injustice to AP. I will go to any extent for justice to the State”. “After Karnataka elections, BJP elders may target us. There are strong rumours about their actions. I don’t afraid about their counter actions once I decided. It is not possible with Telugu People with back door strategies”, he challenged.
After his completion of 12 hours long hunger strike, Naidu addressed the the public and thanked them for the support given to his “Dharma Porata” against the injustice done by NDA Government. “ It’s a “Foundation to long struggle... I never thought of about hunger strike on my birthday in my 40 years of political life..”, he said and slammed the NDA Government, particularly, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who greeted Naidu on his birthday through tweet. Naidu said the TDP will play a crucial role at the Centre in the coming days. The TDP chief had also said that there has been an unprecedented development in the state in the last four years but they could not proportionately register it among the public. “Dharma Porata Deeksha is for seeking SCS and fulfillment of promises made during state bifurcation. There is no sign of cooperation from the Central Government on this issue,’’ Naidu said.
TDP leaders say this is the first time in the country's history that chief minister of a state is observing fast on his birthday. Coinciding with his birthday, the Dharma Porata Deeksha (Struggle for Justice) against the alleged injustice meted out to the state by the NDA government at the Centre started at 7 am and ended at 7 pm. Sharp at 7 am, Naidu began his day long fast on Friday in Vijayawada on the occasion of his birthday to protest the Centre's non-cooperation with the state. Naidu garlanded statues of Mahatma Gandhi, BR Ambedkar, Jyotirao Phule and NT Rama Rao before reaching the stadium. The TDP chief was blessed by Hindu, Muslim and Christian religious leaders before he began the fast. Thousands of people across all ages have drove continuously to the Diksha Shibira from morning to evening and expressed their solidarit and stood in support of him till he concluded the hunger strike. Naidu said he would not celebrate his birthday on Friday to protest the betrayal of faith by the Prime Minister and demand the implementation of the promises made in the AP Reorganisation Act.
State ministers Kala Venkat Rao, D Umamaheswara Rao, Nara lokesh, Kollu Ravindra, MPs and state legislators and leaders of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) joined the CM in the fast at the massive programme organised by the state government. Many social organisations, State Government employee associations, different religious leaders. AAP leaders came to the stage and expressed solidarity to Naidu protest. As Naidu began his protest in the capacity of Chief Minister, Many IAS Officers along with the Chief Secretary Dinesh Kumar came to the protest place and greeted Naidu for his concern towards the State.
Andhra Pradesh Film Industry came forward officially and announced its support to the 5 crore people of Andhra Pradesh. Across the State, in 175 Assembly Constituencies, Ministers, MPs, MlAs and TDP leaders conducted hunger strikes in support of Naidu’s fight.
Setting aside doctors' advice for 15-day bed rest, Assembly Speaker Dr Kodela Sivaprasada Rao left hospital to sit on hunger strike. Dr Kodela is suffering from fever for the past several days. He also received minor injuries during the cycle rally. Kodela shifted the fast camp to Narasaraopet from Sattenapalle due to bad health.