Pro-Seema activists demand special status for AP
Leaders from various political parties join hands extending support to special status to AP at Uravakonda in Anantapur on Monday. (Photo: DC)
Anantapur: With the Centre deciding not to accord special status to the state, angry Pro-Rayalaseema activists have started targeting the BJP-led NDA government and are demanding a second capital with minimum development through a special package.
YSRC pegged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as "Rayalaseema Drohi" for not working for the region. Uravakonda MLA Y. Visweswar Reddy organised a seminar with farmers and leaders at Uravakonda on vows made for Rayalaseema.
Former MP Ananta Venkatrami Reddy pointed out a GO was issued to divert 80 tmc ft of water from Pattiseema. "But, the GO had not included releasing of water from Srisailam reservoir towards Rayalaseema region," he added.
Mr Visweswar Reddy threatened to protest against the apathy shown towards Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanti Irrigation project. He demanded to irrigate at least 1.18 lakh acre in the first phase under the project.
Telugu Desam leader and Rayalaseema Hakkula Vedika leader T.G. Venkatesh demanded a second capital for Rayalaseema that would help develop the area. Pointing out that coastal area leaders have been evading the topic of special packages for backward regions, Mr Venkatesh stressed the need to announce second capital in Rayalaseema.
"If there is no parallel development of both coastal and Rayalaseema regions, the governments have to face agitations over injustice," he said. The Vedika leader blamed the coastal leaders for not taking up problems of Rayalasee-ma and added even the announced packages would not materialise if leaders differed in their opinions.
Anantapur MP J.C. Diwakar Reddy, worried over pending assurances by the Centre, expressed doubt over how the Pattiseema project wou-ld irrigate Seema region when there is no clarity about diversion of water to Rayalaseema.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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