If the present situation continues, the 2014 elections would decide the issue of unified Andhra Pradesh, president of AP NGOs’ Association and chairman of the Samaikya Rashtra Parirakshana Vedika P. Ashok Babu here on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting with representatives of trade unions of public sector undertakings and Central Government departments to chalk out a protest programme in the city, Mr. Ashok Babu also observed that political equations were changing now and it was premature to pick a political party that would keep the State unified. If a political party happens to be sincerely working for a unified State we might give a thought to it at the time of elections, he said.
Asked if he would welcome Chief Minister’s stand on Samaikyandhra, which appeared to be a revolt against party high command, Mr. Ashok Babu said he had not gone through the full details. He made it clear that the employees would not believe the Congress party as different leaders made different statements, which he felt was the party’s strategy. “Going back on the promise of bifurcating the State is as difficult as going ahead with it”, he said.
The APNGOs’ leader reiterated the employees’ stand that no politician would be allowed to join the agitation if he or she continued with the party. “All Seemandhra MPs, including Ministers must resign to stall the proposed Bill for Telangana and all MLAs must ensure that the resolution for a separate State does not get passed in the Assembly,” Mr. Ashok Babu said.
When asked about closure of schools continuously for a long time, the APNGOs’ leader said the teachers before joining the agitation gave an assurance that they would work even during holidays and vacation to complete the syllabus so that academic year was not lost. Compared to the independence struggle, the loss suffered now was negligible. Regarding strike by APSRTC employees, he said that they were ready to fight till the end and were not willing to work in a corporation that was divided into two.
Employees of the PSUs and Central Government organisations in the city would take out rallies at Gajuwaka and city proper on October 4 and 5 respectively. A strike would also be observed later.
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