Protests on Andhra Pradesh issue continue in Delhi

YSR Congress MPs continued their fast here over the special category status to Andhra Pradesh even as party's honorary president Y S Vijayamma rued the lack of unity among parties.

On its part, rival TDP MPs, on Sunday morning, attempted to protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence here but were detained and taken to the police station.

During a meeting with protesting YSR Congress MPs, Vijayamma, wife of former  Andhra Pradesh  chief minister late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and mother of the party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, said, "in the past, indefinite strikes were so effective that it attracted governments' attention and they responded to it."

"Today nothing is happening despite several attempts by the Opposition parties. The late Rajashekar Reddy used to tell us that only a united  Andhra Pradesh would have a strong voice as it would have more of people's representatives.  A smaller state does not bring the requisite pressure. But the bifurcation was done so quickly and the promises made to the residual  Andhra Pradesh is yet to be fulfilled," she said.

"I request everyone, including Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, to advise his MPs to join the hunger strike," she said.

Tirupati MP Varaprasad Rao was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after he complained of uneasiness.

He became the second MP to be moved to the hospital after the hunger strike began on Friday.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met the arrested TDP MPs  "in solidarity" at the police station.

"We condemn their detention and fully support demand for the spl status of AP," he tweeted later.