I am from Telangana, but will help Andhra Pradesh too: Bandaru Dattatreya

Hyderabad: The Centre directly cannot intervene as respective state governments enjoy equal rights under the Constitution.

Union labour and employment minister Bandaru Dattatreya said presently there are two burning issues like sharing of electricity and allotment of All India Service officers among the two states that need to be addressed immediately.

“I will be in Delhi and will meet all concerned ministers to resolve the issues. I will also talk to both the Chief Ministers and try to help them,” Mr Dattatreya said.

When asked, what went wrong with the two Chief Ministers coming to an agreement even after Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan convened a few meetings, he said, “More than the state interests, politics is playing a major role that is preventing them (CMs) from arriving at an agreement.

What I feel is KCR is thinking if he comes to a settlement with N. Chandrababu Naidu, the pro-Telangana parties and leaders may try to take advantage and start campaigning against him for compromising with his AP counterpart.

Similarly, Mr Naidu perhaps thinks that Opposition leader Jagan Mohan Reddy may try to reap political benefit, if he comes to terms with KCR. It will take some time to break the ice.”

He said after his induction as minister again in the Union Cabinet, the Telangana CM had invited him to a felicitation where he promised to do everything for the state. “I am elected from Telangana.

Naturally, I will try to do maximum justice to Telangana. I will personally meet all Union ministers and see that more funds and projects are allotted to Telangana, but that does not mean I will do injustice to AP,” Mr Bandaru said.