Kiran writes to PM, Prez not to divide AP

Even as the Union home ministry on Friday began its work on the nitty-gritty of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and asset-sharing between Telangana and Seemandhra, Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy once again raised his voice against his party high command’s decision, this time dashing off letters to the President and the prime minister.

Reddy, who had earlier said that the match was not over till the last ball, defied the Central government with identical letters addressed to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. In the letters, copies of which were released to mediapersons, he requested Mukherjee and Singh to see to it that Andhra Pradesh remained united.

“Kindly initiate steps to bring peace and harmony before initiating any further steps on the Cabinet decision. Follow the established practices and conventions; refer the matter to the state Assembly for appropriate resolution. After getting the resolution and building consensus among various stakeholders, the bill can be sent to the President for further reference to the state legislature,” he wrote.
“As long as there is no agreement between the stakeholders, no decision shall be taken,” said Reddy in the letter, referring to the decision on the creation of the Telangana state. 

“In the case of the recently created three states, the erstwhile states of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh passed unanimous resolutions in their respective Assemblies to facilitate the Government of India (GoI) to take the appropriate decision.

 The Union Cabinet acted only after the receipt of resolutions from respective state Assemblies.” 

“State division vertically divides the irrigation structures (dams) and the river course in halves. No state or country has ever faced such a piquant situation of dividing a dam or a river into halves till date,” he wrote.
Reddy said that in a hurry to divide, the Centre had failed to do its homework. The Sri Krishna Commission Report was never discussed or debated; the Anthony Committee appointed by the Congress did not complete its task of consulting various stakeholders. “Why the GoI is not willing to wait for the committee report, nor is it open to debate and discussion in Parliament about such an important matter, is something we cannot understand.”

Reddy also questioned the logic behind the tabling of the Cabinet Note for creation of a new state as a Table Item in a hurried manner. All these shortcuts are raising doubts in the minds of people about the fairness of the process and justness of actions, he said.

Reddy’s rebellion assumes prominence as state Governor E S L Narasimhan, in his capacity as head of the state, is at present camping in New Delhi, deliberating with Central ministers on how best to implement their decision to bifurcate the state.