Andhra Pradesh Congress launches campaign 'Matti Satyagraham'

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) today launched 'Matti Satyagraham' programme to protest against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government for its alleged failure to fulfill the promises made to the state during bifurcation.

'Matti (soil) Satyagraham' takes its inspiration directly from the 'Salt Satyagraha' movement by Mahatma Gandhi in March 1930, a statement issued by APCC here said.

APCC president N Raghuveera Reddy and other senior leaders formally began the programme at Hyderabad, it said.

As part of the programme, a fistful of soil (matti) would be gathered from each of the 16,000 villages and 3,000 municipal wards of the state, sacred temples, mosques and churches and would be sent by post to the Prime Minister.

Soil would also be gathered from the native villages of AP chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu (Naravaripalle in Chittor), Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu (Chavatapalem in Nellore), and P Ashok Gajapati Raju's village in Vizianagaram.

Along with soil, pitchers of water drawn from main rivers Godavari, Krishna, Penna and Tungabhadra, and from major lakes would also be sent to the Prime Minister, it said.

The party alleged that Modi just brought soil and water from the national capital while the people were eagerly looking for an announcement on Special Category Status demand.

"Nearly 17 months have passed since the state was bifurcated and 20 months have passed since the promises were made in Parliament. Instead of fulfilling them in letter and spirit, Modi chose to give AP a handful of earth (soil) and water in a pitcher. With this he has conclusively poured cold water on the hopes and aspirations of the people of AP," Congress said.

Reddy has also appealed to people, non-political, literary, cultural organisations, NGOs to participate in the campaign so that it could fulfill its sense of purpose.