Union Minister bats for United State

‘Telangana issue is sensitive and complex. The Centre is taking stock of the situation and an amicable solution will be worked out’

July 07, 2013 11:16 am | Updated June 04, 2016 12:24 pm IST - VIJAYAWADA:

Touching gesture: Union Minister of State for Finance J. D. Seelam wipes dust settled on Babu Jagjivan Ram's statue with a garland near Tummalapalli Kshetrayya Kalakshetram in Vijayawada on Saturday.Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal is seen. Photo: V. Raju

Touching gesture: Union Minister of State for Finance J. D. Seelam wipes dust settled on Babu Jagjivan Ram's statue with a garland near Tummalapalli Kshetrayya Kalakshetram in Vijayawada on Saturday.Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal is seen. Photo: V. Raju

Union Minister of State for Finance J. D. Seelam has asserted that he was a ‘Samaikyavadi’ in “heart and soul.” “Neither is there a change in my ideology nor in myself. My ideology for unified State still holds good,” the Minister said on the sidelines of a meeting organised to felicitate him here on Saturday.

Mr. Seelam said that the Telangana issue was sensitive and complex. The government (Centre) was taking stock of the situation and would consider the views of both sides.

‘I have my limitations’

An amicable solution was being worked out. AICC president Sonia Gandhi would give equal weight to suffering of people in both regions, he said, adding,

“We cannot say that suffering of a farmer in Telangana is different to that of a farmer in Coastal Andhra.”

When asked if he was still a Samaikyavadi, he said: “As a Minister I have some limitations. I cannot elaborate more on this. I am a nationalist.”

Earlier at the felicitation function, Mr. Seelam said: “Don’t get carried away by regional and sub regional sentiments being evoked by some vested interests.”

The British, during Independence time, felt that India would disintegrate into pieces. Many greater leaders like Nehru, however, kept it united. There were times when India had no food to eat, and relied on US supplies. The nation marched ahead in all spheres as the country was united, he said.

His comments came at a meeting organised by Vijayawada city and Krishna district Congress units under leadership of Vijayawada MP Lagapdati Rajagopal, who has been campaigning for a united State.

And also Samaikyandhra leaders are gearing up to organise Samaikyandhra meetings.

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