“T-bill rejection alone isn’t enough”

In a democracy, will of the people is paramount. But parties seem to be oblivious to it, says Ashok Babu

The mere rejection of the Andhra Pradesh Re-Organisation Bill, 2013, by the State Assembly is not sufficient, said APNGO president and Samaikyandhra Parirakshana Samithi leader P.Ashok Babu.

Speaking at a roundtable organised by the Andhra Pradesh Journalists Forum here on Sunday, he said that there were several ifs and buts about the President granting more time for a thorough discussion on the draft bill. Attempts were being made to introduce the draft bill in the Rajya Sabha through the back door so that it would be kept alive even if the Lok Sabha was dissolved.

Mr. Ashok Babu said in a democracy the will of the people was paramount to all, but the political parties in the country were unable to put the interest of the people over the interest of the party.

Samaikyandhra meeting

He said it was therefore very crucial for the people to give a clear mandate in election to those who were ready to put the interest of the people above party interest. He said that political uncertainty would also be counter production to the people of the State. It was the political uncertainty at the Centre that had led to the crisis in Andhra Pradesh with a handful of leaders blackmailing the bigger parties. He said a Samaikyandhra meeting to be held at Indira Park on January 22 was crucial and that everyone should support it.

Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal said that he was against the bifurcation of the State and that he had told his party high command to change its stand.

Telugu Desam MLA Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and Congress MLAs Malladi Vishnu and Vellampalli Srinivas said that they would oppose the draft bill in the Assembly.