JUNE 2 A DARK DAY FOR AP, WAS BETRAYED, SAYS NAIDU

AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu on Friday termed June 2 a dark day for Andhra Pradesh as the bifurcation of the erstwhile united AP was done improperly.

Participating in a Nava Nirmana Deeksha here, which attracted fewer people, Mr Naidu said the Telugu people can still feel the pain of bifurcation.

Mr Naidu accused the Congress of dividing the state for its political benefits, while recalling that June 2 also happens to be the independence day of Italy, the native country of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

The Nava nirmana Deeksha conducted on Friday failed to draw crowds. The scorching heat had a major role to play in a majority of the chairs remaining vacant. Despite massive publicity efforts, attendance was unsatisfactory.

The AP government has been organising a Navanirmana Deeksha on bifurcation day for the past three years. The aim of the program is to foster a spirit of unity and motivation among people of the state. A week long program on various welfare schemes will be started with a oath in the name of Mahasankalpam.

The last two instalments of the Deeksha witnessed huge crowds and massive public participation.

In anticipation of a similar outcome this year, the Krishna district administration made arrangements for a large number of people to be accommodated. About five thousands chairs were arranged on the four roads that connect to the Benz Circle Junction, and huge LED screens were set up for the convenience of spectators.