All political parties should come together and form a joint action committee to fight the one-sided, arbitrary division of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Intellectuals Forum has demanded. A resolution should be passed in the Assembly opposing the irrational bifurcation.
All the political parties barring CPI(M) were guilty of displaying utmost neglect while agreeing for division of the State, chairman of the Forum Chalasani Srinivas told reporters here on Friday.
Conditional support for bifurcation with specific clauses on irrigation, Hyderabad, employment and escrow account for development of backward areas would have stopped the process in the beginning itself, he said.
Mr. Srinivas came down heavily on the Cabinet note that mentioned Hyderabad as transit capital with final powers to the Governor.
The note did not mention any financial assistance for the new capital but only for construction of Raj Bhavan, legislatures and guest houses. The entire fruits of development in Hyderabad for the past 56 years would go to the proposed new State but debt was apportioned in proportion to population, the note said. Also during the past 10 years, Rs.1,836 crore was spent on power for coastal region and Rs.7,350 crore in Telangana. But debt was to be shared on the basis of population which was unjust, he said.
Mr. Srinivas alleged though the note mentioned the present admission process would continue for five years those from Andhra region were facing discrimination now itself. The central institutions proposed for Seemandhra would not bestow any special allotment for students in the region. The development was proposed in 12th and 13th five-year plans.
Mr. Srinivas took exception to some Central ministers giving away on a platter Bhadrachalam division and the 170 km through which the Godavari was flowing and 440 MW Lower Sileru project to the proposed State.
The swiftness with which draft copy of the Bill was sent by a BSF plane should have been displayed when dealing with Chinese and Pakistani aggression on the borders, he said. Mr. Srinivas attended a programme to unveil the statue of Sandeep who had committed suicide six months ago for Samaikyandhra at Anakapalle.
Samaikyandhra Vidyardhi JAC Adari Kishore Kumar said students would lay siege to the Assembly to protest the bifurcation.
Kurma Rao (Panchayatraj JAC), Rajesh (Dalita Vidyardhi), G.V. Satyanarayaja Raju (Manyaseema) and B. Haribabu (Andhra University) were among those present.
