ANANTAPUR: Protests against the alleged apathy towards Rayalaseema rose with intellectuals coming together for development of the region.
The proposal to set up a capital in Guntur-Vijayawada region has not gone down well with them. Doctors, lawyers, educationalists and student organisations are alleging that history is being ignored while choosing a capital.
They pointed out to the period before 1956, when the capital was sacrificed for unity of Telugus and gentlemen agreement between leaders of Rayalaseema and Coastal AP over setting up a capital, High Court and irrigation facilities. The Seema leaders agreed to join coastal region only after Sribhag pact assured priority to the area and Kurnool was selected capital in 1953.
Even before the panel to choose a capital toured Kurnool, the AP CM reportedly leaked his interest for Guntur-Vijayawada.
Social networks are also being used for pro-Rayalaseema agitation with many websites creating awareness on the demands of the people.
Rayalaseema Hakkula Vedika founder T.G.Venkatesh stressed consider Kurnool as the capital obeying sacrifice.
Educationalist and Rajadhani Samithi founder Chennaih from Kurnool district observed another agitation would turnout for Greater Rayalaseema soon if neglected in rebuilding of state.
"It is high time the people demanded separate Rayalaseema state along with Telangana state. The proposed state would be bigger than many states in India such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarkhand, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Tripura, Goa, Haryana etc,” Irrigation expert Sreerami Reddy opined and added separate Rayalaseema State would have Constitutional, administrative and political rights to take decisions speedily and resolve various problems such as water, power, industry and employment and secure Central assistance and cooperation of other States on its own, he said.
The vital issues affecting the Rayalaseema people were water for drinking and irrigation, power, industry and employment.. They had strongly opposed construction of Pohtireddypadu head regulator.
Dr Geyanand, Janavignanavedika leader and MLC made it clear Rayalaseema would again suffer a lot if neglected in the present situation. Senior advocate A.N.Guruprasad from Anantapur observed the rulers were badly neglected development of backward region. "Providing state capital and high court would help our region towards development." He demanded there should be no secondary thought on capital because the coastal areas were already developed in many sectors.
Educationalist Somasekhar Reddy lamented students of Rayalaseema were already suffering due to state division as tens of thousands of youngsters in dilemma over their future. Though, several institutions announced for Rayalaseema, they are being diverted to coastal region. "The officials surveyed lands for AIMS in Anantapur, but it will be set up at Vijayawada."
I&PR minister Palle Raghunath Reddy, hails from Rayalaseema region, has said the government would not centrifuge development at one centre and take up development activities at every part of Rayalaseema and Coastal areas. "We took oath at Vijayawada, conducted cabinet meeting at Vizag and going to celebrate Independence Day at Kurnool," he said.
