MPs from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), demanding a special category status for Andhra Pradesh, were detained by police as they tried to march towards the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi on Sunday, 8 April.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the MPs at the police station. He also took to Twitter to condemn the detention and express his support.
According to PTI, the MPs decided to protest after holding a meeting at former Union minister YS Chowdary’s house on Sunday morning. However, they were all detained by the police and the CRPF en route the PM’s residence on 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.
The TDP had withdrawn its ministers in the Union Cabinet and severed it’s ties with the NDA after the Centre refused to grant special category status to Andhra Pradesh. They had also issued no confidence motion notices against the government which were not taken up due to Parliament disruptions, reported PTI.
MP Jaydev Galla told PTI:
The prime minister is the person to take decisions on the SCS. He has to fulfil his promises and that is why we want to raise our demands with him.
At the same time, the YSR Congress is on day three of a hunger strike over the special status demand. Party MP VR Velagapalli also had to be taken to a hospital due to health issues during the strike, reported NDTV.
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