Reiterating their unwavering commitment to the cause of united Andhra Pradesh, Congress leaders from Seemandhra plan to make a strong pitch to AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh for retaining the State in its present form.
In the backdrop of speculation that the Centre was all set to announce its decision on the statehood issue by dividing Andhra Pradesh into Rayala-Telangana and Seemandhra, the Congress leaders held a meeting to take stock of the situation in the Minister’s Club House on Friday. They felt that no credence need be given to media reports that the Centre had already decided to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.
They decided to take up the issue with Mr. Singh during his visit to the State on Sunday, June 30. This was the right time to make it clear to the high command that division of State was uncalled for.
However, they maintained that they would abide by whatever decision the Centre took on the Telangana issue. The meeting strongly opposed the idea of Rayala-Telangana claiming that such a move was not in anyone’s interests.
Sources said a delegation of Seemandhra Congress leaders comprising Ministers S. Sailajanath, Ganta Srinivasa Rao and former Minister Gade Venkata Reddy would visit Visakhapatnam on Sunday, June 30 to submit a memorandum to Mr. Singh reasoning why the State should remain united and highlight the dangers of bifurcation.
They plan to meet him again in Hyderabad on July 1.
A proposal was mooted to hold a public meeting with the participation of people from Kurnool and Anantapur to send across the message that they would oppose inclusion of the two districts in Telangana, in the event of bifurcation. Similar meetings are planned in Tirupati, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada.
Talking to reporters later, Dr. Sailajanath said they would take up every activity to keep the State intact. Stating that there was unanimity in support of united Andhra Pradesh, he said several complications would arise if the bifurcation process was started.
