Union Ministers and MPs from Seemandhra region have exuded confidence that the process of division of the State has slowed down as the central leadership was keeping a close watch on the ongoing agitation in the Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.
A delegation of Ministers and MPs, who held discussions with Ahmed Patel, political secretary to AICC president Sonia Gandhi, and Union Minister M. Veerappa Moily on Wednesday, were reportedly convinced that the high command may not rush and complete the process of bifurcation till the concerns of the region are addressed.
Congress MP from Anantapur Ananta Venkatarami Reddy quoted Mr. Moily as telling the delegation that they were closely monitoring the protests in Seemandhra and would certainly render justice to the region. “We are confident that till the Antony Committee submits its report, the process of division will not go ahead,” Mr. Reddy told reporters after the meeting in New Delhi. Apparently under tremendous pressure from their constituents in the Seemandhra region, who are demanding the resignation of the Union Ministers and MPs, a delegation comprising K.S. Rao, K.Chiranjeevi, J. D. Seelam, Killi Kruparani and Panabaka Lakshmi besides the MPs met party seniors.
Grim situation
“The high command is aware of the grim situation in Seemandhra and is all at sea on how to resolve the issue,” Minister for Primary Education S. Sailajanath, who was also part of the delegation, told The Hindu from Delhi. Meanwhile, indications available suggest that some Seemandhra leaders could resort to extreme action like quitting their posts or seats, if the high command ignores their plea and goes ahead with division.
The leaders are likely to meet top leaders such as Sonia Gandhi, Digvijay Singh and Sushil Kumar Shinde on Thursday.
