JOIN USTelangana provokes stir in AP
The proposed Rayala-Telangana state has been universally rejected in Andhra Pradesh, with leaders cutting across parties and regional affiliations strongly turning down the idea.
Students of Osmania University clashed with paramilitary police, as the proposal resulted in a bandh call, student rallies (in Nellore) and a self-immolation attempt.
“How could we, the people of Rayalaseema, live with people who destroyed the icons of Rayalaseema such as Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Annamayya and Molla (on Tank Bund), how can we live with the people who chased away our mango farmers and kicked out our artisans from Telangana,” asked Byreddy Rajasekhara Reddy of Rayalaseema Parirakshna Samithi.
Addressing the press in Anantapur, Rajasekhara Reddy suggested that ministers and other elected representatives from the region should channel their effort in getting a separate Rayalaseema state, as the Centre is all set to create Telangana state.
Reacting to the visit of Seemandhra ministers to New Delhi to mount pressure on Congress and United Progressive Alliance governments to keep the state undivided, Rajasekhara Reddy said the Congress had made up its mind to announce Telangana state.
“The ministers should abandon the outdated Samaikyandhra demand and must change their strategy to protect united Rayalaseema and work for a separate state,” he said.
Telugu Desam Party leader Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy in Nellore wondered who suggested the idea of Rayala-Telangana state to the Congress.
“Neither the people of Rayalaseema demanded Rayala-Telangana nor did the people of Telangana, then why the region (interest) is being sacrificed to politics,” he said.
Somireddy said that lakhs of acres in Prakasam, Nellore, Kadapa and Chittore would go dry if Kurnool and Anantapur were to merge with Telangana.
Meanwhile, YSR Congress MLA Shoba Nagi Reddy demanded a clear stance by the ruling party over the issue. Speaking to media at Nandyal, the deputy floor leader for YSRC said Telangana “is not Congress’ own issue, but it involves 10 crore people of Andhra Pradesh. Instead of revealing (its) opinion, the Congress party has been asking the opinion of other parties,” she said.
She also accused TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu of not reacting to the issue and to the protests across the state. “Naidu is responsible if the state were to be divided. I call on TDP legislators to quit their posts,” she stated.