Silent protest rallies are planned on the Ramakrishna beach here on the Republic Day, on the eve of the CII partnership summit, to press the demand for granting special status to Andhra Pradesh, even though the police have made it quite clear that such activities would not be allowed on the beach road.

Film star and Janasena leader Pawan Kalyan, severely critical of the NDA government for denying special status to the state, is exhorting the youth to draw inspiration from their Tamil brethren involved in the jallikattu agitation and fight for special category status in the same spirit.

YSR Congress leader Jagan Mohan Reddy said his party would support all such agitations for special category status to the State.

The main opposition leader will also join the protest and urged youth to participate in the stir.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that he was at a loss to understand the connection between jallikattu and the special category status.

Clarifying that his government had accepted the special package in lieu of the special category status, only after the Centre had given an assurance that the interests of the state would be taken care of in the special package, he said it was not proper to relate two unconnected things and rouse up passions.

Andhra Pradesh Director-General of Police N Sambasiva Rao said the messages calling upon the youth of the state to participate in the RK beach rally in Visakhapatnam had gone viral in the social media, but “we have not received any request for permission to hold the rally. We cannot allow such activity on the beach road, as the CII partnership summit is being held at the Harbour Park in the vicinity on Friday and Saturday.

“Delegates from several nations are participating in the conclave and their security has to be ensured.”

Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Yoganand and District Collector Praveen Kumar also made it clear that no rallies would be allowed on Republic Day.

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