Unrest In AP If No Special Status: Balakrishna

Tollywood actor, Hindupur MLA and Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital & Research Institute chairman Nandamuri Balakrishna on Sunday disclosed that IT and Panchayat Raj Minister K Taraka Rama Rao could not attend the Pink Ribbon Walk program organized as part of a cancer awareness campaign on Sunday due to indisposition.

Speaking to media persons at the program, Balakrishna said that when he had invited the minister to participate in the Pink Ribbon program, KTR had readily agreed to come, but could not eventually do so as he was reportedly indisposed.

When the media sought his comments on the Centre's silence on the issue of Special Status to Andhra Pradesh, Balakrishna said that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi was averse to granting Special Status to AP, it would be a great blow to the self-respect of the Telugu people.

Special Status would help the State develop on all fronts, he said, and warned that the Centre's failure to grant Special Status would lead to unpleasant consequences.

Balakrishna however added that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was trying his best to get Special Status as well as a special package for the residuary State.