Both the BJP and Congress had betrayed the people of Andhra Pradesh and forced them to protest on the streets, Telugu matinee idol and Jana Sena Party leader Pawan Kalyan alleged on Friday.

Speaking at a public meeting here on Friday Pawan Kalyan condemned the NDA government for not honouring its promise of special category status (SCS) to AP after bifurcation. “We have waited two-and-a-half years for special status category and all that the Centre has given is two rotten laddus, for which we have to thank our honourable Venkaiah Naidu ji .”

‘BJP equally to blame’ Pointing out that the BJP had passed a resolution in 1997 at its State-level meeting here for carving out a Telangana State from undivided Andhra Pradesh, he said: “The BJP is as much responsible for bifurcation as is the Congress, and both parties are outdoing each other in playing opportunistic politics.”

He said that the time has come for the TDP government in the State to decide “whether to take the two rotten laddus offered by the Centre or to fight for what is rightfully ours”. He exhorted MPs from the State to fight unitedly for SCS.

‘TDP-BJP let me down’ Most of Pawan Kalyan's jibes in his hour-long speech were directed at the BJP and the Congress. “Trusting the BJP leaders and the TDP leaders, I lent my whole-hearted support to the alliance in 2014 elections, but they have let me and the people of the State down. They will have to pay a price for it. They should not underestimate the fighting spirit of the Andhra people,” he said.

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