Continuing their 72-hour strike, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) employees staged a dharna in front of the VMC main office here on Tuesday. The employees squatted near the gate and raised slogans against the UPA government’s decision to bifurcate the State.
AP NGOs Association leader Vidyasagar, addressing the gathering, lamented that the division would push the Seemandhra into darkness. The future of employees was in doldrums. The politicians were unaware of the repercussions of the division of the State. They were under false impression that a paradise could be built in coastal Andhra or Rayalaseema.
“How could be it possible if Hyderabad, a major source of revenue, goes to Telangana?” he asked. The history speaks volumes of fate of new states and their capitals.
The Central Government had promised to pay Rs.1 lakh crore to Chattisgarh for construction of the capital city. The Centre, however, hasn’t released more than Rs.4,300 crore during last 3.8 years. People should understand what would be consequences and hardships in developing a new capital from this example, he said.
Hyderabad, which used to be IT hub some years ago, now slipped to fourth place. Pune, Bangalore, Chennai have occupied first three places due to turbulence in the state, he said
All those supporting the Telangana State in Congress party, Sharad Pawar or some other leader, were from the States that reaped harvest out of turmoil in Andhra Pradesh, he explained.
The support for Samaikyandhra was growing day by day.
Even before the proposal takes a Bill shape every employee need to raise voice against the division of the State, he added. VMC Employees Union leader Eswar and others were present.
