TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu said he foresaw a threat to the country’s federal fabric if the Central Government and the Congress leadership went ahead with the bifurcation of the State.
The matter was being taken forward in a “highly objectionable” manner for “selfish political ends”, Mr. Naidu said. How could the Centre bifurcate the State without bringing stakeholders to the negotiating table.
“The same can happen in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra or any other State if it is allowed in Andhra Pradesh,” he said. The TDP would raise a national debate on the manner in which AP was being divided.
The TDP chief termed the Group of Ministers on Telangana a “Gang of Ministers” out to harm the State’s interests. The panel comprised leaders who had no say in their respective States, but were keen on dividing Telugus. “Who gave P. Chidambaram, Sushilkumar Shinde, Jairam Ramesh and Veerappa Moily the right to usurp the State’s functions? Can they win the next election in their own States?” he asked.
Mr. Naidu attacked on the draft Bill on Telangana, saying it would divest the State of its rights and responsibilities on key sectors like irrigation. The proposed Apex Council, chaired by the Union Water Resources Minister, was atrocious as such a body would render Chief Ministers of the two new States powerless. The Centre could instead, explore the opportunity of declaring Andhra Pradesh a Union Territory so that the Governor would administer the State.
“Can the Centre apply the same yardstick to other States like Tamil Nadu or Karnataka?” Mr. Naidu criticised Union Ministers from the State for allowing the Centre to bulldoze them. He demanded that the Centre halt the bifurcation process till the concerns were addressed to the satisfaction of the two regions.
Ridicules JAC planEarlier, Mr. Naidu made light of the proposal for formation of a JAC of political parties to mount pressure on the Centre against going ahead with the bifurcation. He said his party had been demanding an amicable resolution to the concerns expressed by the stakeholders and these should be addressed without political considerations in mind. ``Why should I support a corrupt man?” he said indirectly taking a dig at YSR Congress president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy. Replying to queries at a press conference, he wondered whether AICC president Sonia Gandhi was not aware of irregularities and lapses that took place during the erstwhile Congress Government headed by late YS Rajasekhara Reddy. ``Is she not aware? She did not speak at that time and this amounts to encouraging corruption,” he said.
