<p>Asserting that Andhra Pradesh was able to achieve substantial progress as it was a big state which had remained united, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today hoped that the status quo would be maintained even as the Centre proceeds on its decision to carve a separate Telangana out of its territory.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Speaking at the official Andhra Pradesh Formation Day celebrations here, Reddy remarked that the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had been a staunch integrationist as he reiterated his views against the state's bifurcation.<br /><br />Reddy has been championing the cause of a united Andhra Pradesh although the Congress Working Committee and Union Cabinet have decided in favour of a separate Telangana.<br /><br />"The state and the people are in... uncertainty. There is confusion whether we will celebrate the Formation Day festival again or not. I pray to 'Telugu Thalli' (Telugu mother) that this festival continues the same way."<br /><br />Averring that Gandhi was a staunch integrationist, Reddy said her move to contest elections from AP showed her confidence in the wisdom of its people.<br /><br />"(Gandhi) said in Parliament on December 21, 1972, that the future of Andhra Pradesh should be thought of for the next 100 years with foresight.<br /><br />"She had said, 'the slogan of 'Visalandhra' (united Andhra) still resonates in my ears and I am a strong integrationist'," Reddy stated.<br /><br />India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, laid the foundation for unifying Telugu-speaking people on November 1, 1956 (AP formation day), and leaders from AP like PV Narasimha Rao and Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy steered the entire country, Reddy added.<br /><br />Andhra Pradesh was the first state in the country to be formed on the basis of a common language, a demand for which Potti Sriramulu sacrificed his life and Boorgula Ramakrishna Rao gave up his Chief Minister's post, Reddy observed.<br /><br />Andhra Pradesh has been able to build huge irrigation projects like Nagarjuna Sagar, Sriram Sagar, Srisailam because it remained as one state, he said.<br /><br />The state remained strong politically and economically and also carried influence because the Telugu people remained united, stressed Reddy.</p>
<p>Asserting that Andhra Pradesh was able to achieve substantial progress as it was a big state which had remained united, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today hoped that the status quo would be maintained even as the Centre proceeds on its decision to carve a separate Telangana out of its territory.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Speaking at the official Andhra Pradesh Formation Day celebrations here, Reddy remarked that the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had been a staunch integrationist as he reiterated his views against the state's bifurcation.<br /><br />Reddy has been championing the cause of a united Andhra Pradesh although the Congress Working Committee and Union Cabinet have decided in favour of a separate Telangana.<br /><br />"The state and the people are in... uncertainty. There is confusion whether we will celebrate the Formation Day festival again or not. I pray to 'Telugu Thalli' (Telugu mother) that this festival continues the same way."<br /><br />Averring that Gandhi was a staunch integrationist, Reddy said her move to contest elections from AP showed her confidence in the wisdom of its people.<br /><br />"(Gandhi) said in Parliament on December 21, 1972, that the future of Andhra Pradesh should be thought of for the next 100 years with foresight.<br /><br />"She had said, 'the slogan of 'Visalandhra' (united Andhra) still resonates in my ears and I am a strong integrationist'," Reddy stated.<br /><br />India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, laid the foundation for unifying Telugu-speaking people on November 1, 1956 (AP formation day), and leaders from AP like PV Narasimha Rao and Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy steered the entire country, Reddy added.<br /><br />Andhra Pradesh was the first state in the country to be formed on the basis of a common language, a demand for which Potti Sriramulu sacrificed his life and Boorgula Ramakrishna Rao gave up his Chief Minister's post, Reddy observed.<br /><br />Andhra Pradesh has been able to build huge irrigation projects like Nagarjuna Sagar, Sriram Sagar, Srisailam because it remained as one state, he said.<br /><br />The state remained strong politically and economically and also carried influence because the Telugu people remained united, stressed Reddy.</p>