AP leaders seek divine intervention

As a last-ditch effort to stall any decision to divide the state, Congress leaders from Andhra region are now seeking divine intervention.

Even as leaders from all the three re gions of the state have stepped up lobbying in New Delhi, party high command on Tuesday directed Chief Minister N Kirankumar Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajnarsimha and APCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana to be available in New Delhi on July 12 and 13 for a possible decision on Telangana.

As a result, the cabinet meeting slated for July 12 has been cancelled. With the signals from New Delhi indicating a decision on Telangana, Botsa Satyanarayana said he was strongly in favour of united Andhra Pradesh. Botsa who had a darshan of Lord  Venkateshwara at Tirumala Tuesday, told the media that he prayed to God to keep the State united.

However, he added that the verdict of the Congress high command would be final and binding on all Congress leaders. He said he would not oppose the Centre’s decision if it opted to bifurcate the State though it will be painful.

Botsa made it clear that he was ready to quit if anybody said he was compromising on State bifurcation for the sake of post.

Meanwhile, the Rayalaseema JAC that met AICC state in charge Digvijay Singh in New Delhi, urged him not to split Rayalaseema as it would hurt the sentiments of people.

The Telangana JAC also met here to take stock of the situation after the recent statement of Digvijay Singh that there is no time limit for a decision on T. JAC Convener Prof Kodandaram said that a decision to intensify agitation for separate state was taken as JAC partners suspect the intentions of Congress party.

“Why would Congress ask different road maps, while there is only one decision to be taken. We suspect that Congress has raked up T issue to benefit from panchayat elections,” he added.