Make KCR or Jagan CM, but don't divide AP: Kiran attacks Centre over Telangana
Vijayawada: Mounting his most direct attack on the Centre and the party for dividing the state, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday made it clear that he would defeat the State Reorganisation Bill when it comes to the state Assembly.
The Chief Minister said that the Centre should not divide the state for political gains, and that the Congress would be defeated in the elections due to this decision. He repeatedly reiterated the stand of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi who had spoken against state bifurcation.
Reddy told the Congress high command that it could give the Chief Minister’s post to TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao or to YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, but must not divide AP.
He said the Centre was dancing to the tunes ofChandrasekhar Rao, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu.
He was speaking at a public meeting here to mark the dedication of the Pulichintala project to the nation. Mr Reddy said it was unfortunate the Centre had failed to notice that 70 to 80 per cent of the people were against bifurcation.
Assembly to get T bill by monday
Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh, the main man behind the preparation of the draft T-Bill, said that in all likelihood, the AP Reorganisation Bill will reach AP Assembly by Monday.
This is because President Pranab Mukherjee is likely to refer it on Sunday, the day he returns from his three-day trip to West Bengal.
Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh said he could not predict how much time the President will allow the AP Legislature and the time-frame for the Centre to introduce the Bill in Parliament.
Speaking to newsmen in Delhi on Saturday, Ramesh said that the Centre is actively considering offering a special package for the Rayalaseema region due to its backwardness, along the lines of the Bundelkhand package. He also said that if AP Assembly favours the inclusion of Kurnool and Anantapur districts of Rayalaseema in Telangana, the Centre may consider it favourably at the time of approving the final Bill.
Denying accusations that the Group of Ministers are not aware of the issues and problems concerning AP, Mr Ramesh said, “We are well aware of what we are doing and how to take forward the process.
I am an MP representing Andhra Pradesh, Shinde was the Governor, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Veerappa Moily and Antony have worked as in-charge general secretaries for Congress earlier… Narayanaswamy has an excellent understanding on AP. Everyone was aware of everything.”
He also said that since the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal has given its verdict on sharing of Krishna river waters among all the riparian states, the same award will be implemented even after bifurcation.
