'PM did not follow Raj Dharma': Chandrababu Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu began a day-long hunger strike in New Delhi this morning to demand special status for the state.

He urged the center to fulfill promises made when Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014. The protest comes just a day after PM Modi held a rally in Andhra Pradesh, roasting Mr. Naidu for allegedly wasting public money on political campaigns.

"(Former PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee said ''Raj Dharma'' was not followed in Gujarat (during the 2002 riots). Now, "Raj Dharma" is not being followed in the case of Andhra Pradesh. We have been denied what is rightfully ours. If you don't get it done, we know how to get it done," CM said.

The TDP chief began the ''Dharma Porata Deeksha'' (a day-long protest for justice) at the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan around 8:30 am after paying respects to the Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Rajghat.


The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had quit the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance or NDA last year over what its chief described as "injustice" done to Andhra Pradesh after its bifurcation.

After quitting the NDA in March last year, the TDP had also moved a ''no-confidence motion'' in the Monsoon session of parliament in July, which was defeated.