Terming the Centre’s decision to divide Andhra Pradesh as “irrational”, the YSR Congress has said the that the Congress party is doing it only for political gains without considering the immense damage it would cause to both the regions.
YSR Congress representatives -- M. V. Mysura Reddy and Gattu Ramachandra Rao -- on Wednesday, making their submission to the Group of Ministers, made it clear that the party would oppose every step towards bifurcation of the State.
Arguing that they would not endorse the Cabinet’s decision taken to divide the State, Dr. Mysura Reddy said bifurcation for political gain would hamper development of the three regions. The party, which had refrained from sending its opinion to the Terms of Reference framed by the Union Home Ministry, however submitted an eight-page letter addressed by the party president Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy to the GoM.
The YSR Congress leaders sought to know why only AP was being targeted for division when there were similar demands from other States also.
Referring to the proposals being readied by the Centre suggesting Irrigation Council and Board for Krishna and Godavari, he said it was detrimental to AP. “No State is getting surplus water and it is only AP that gets surplus water. A lot of projects are under construction and no new project can be built if the Board is constituted. This is detrimental to drought prone areas,” he said.
Speaking to reporters, Dr. Mysoora Reddy said it was not correct on Centre’s part to consider taking away home, law and order, revenue and handing over to the Governor and Union Government. “It is against spirit of federalism,” he said. Linguistic States were formed on the basis of the recommendations of the States Reorganisation Commission. “Without adhering to the laid down practices like passing the Bill with two thirds majority, Congress wants to divide the State for political gains,” he said.
Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy, in his letter, questioned how water and irrigation related issues could be redressed.
