Hyderabad: The AP government has invited the Telangana government to a dialogue to settle the ongoing disputes between the two states.
AP ministers Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Palle Raghunath Reddy, K. Atchannaidu, Kamineni Srinivas and Devineni Uma Maheswar Rao told the media on Monday that the Telangana government was taking unilateral decisions without discussing the same with the AP government.
Mr Yanamala said that selected representatives of both the governments should discuss the disputed issues and come to an agreement. He added if the experts could not reach a consensus, then the states could approach the Centre for settlement. And if that too failed, then they could approach the courts.
He said that there were 37 institutions like the NG Ranga Agriculture University and others which were not mentioned in the IX or the X Schedule of the Bifurcation Act and both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments should discuss and arrive at a decision regarding these institutions.
He, however, accused the Telangana government and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao of taking unilateral decisions without consulting the AP government.
He also said that Mr Rao’s criticism of the Centre’s decision to give powers to the Governor in the common capital was against the sprit of the federal system and the Constitution and questioned why
Mr Rao had remained quiet when the Bill was passed in Parliament, especially since he had played a key role in drafting the Bill and getting it passed.
He alleged that Mr Rao was politicising the issue for political mileage.
Stating that no one was above the law, the AP minister said that instead of creating unnecessarily controversies it was better to settle the issues through discussions.
Mr Yanamala added, “They need not come to us and we don’t need to go to them. Both can sit at a neutral place for discussions.”
He also said that the AP government would not approach the courts right away and the representatives of the states must discuss the issues first.
If they did not arrive at a consensus, then the states must approach the Centre for a solution and the last step would be going to the courts to settle the issues.
