‘Chalo Delhi’ yatra by Seemandhra Congress leaders

Idea is to join forces with agitating party MPs

As the agitation against division of the State assumed serious proportion with the protesters targeting the Congress leaders, Seemandhra Ministers and elected representatives are planning to make another trip to Delhi on August 12 or 13 to express their displeasure over the leadership’s decision on Telangana.

With a firm resolve that the Centre should keep Andhra Pradesh united, the Seemandhra Congress leaders are gearing up to fully support the agitating MPs from the region. They are likely to meet the members of the new committee headed by Union Minister, A. K. Antony constituted by the high command to examine the issues raised by the Seemandhra leaders. They have already faxed a resolution to the high command demanding that the State be kept united.

APCC spokesperson and Government Whip R. Padmaraju on Wednesday told reporters that Seemandhra leaders were keen on convincing the central leadership against proceeding further on the issue. He said the situation in Seemandhra had turned serious with people turning out in large numbers. The ongoing agitation in the region was spontaneous without any political parties’ backing, he added.

Sources, however, said the delegation of Seemandhra leaders essentially wanted to meet the region’s MPs and appeal to them to continue their struggle and pressure the high command against proceeding further.

The Seemandhra leaders are worried about the future of people settled in Hyderabad. They want the Centre to decide the fate of Hyderabad if it goes ahead with bifurcation. They are suggesting that if the Congress is unable to go back on its promise, then Hyderabad be made either a Union Territory or accorded Delhi-like National Capital Region status. A senior Minister camping in New Delhi said it was the forceful protests launched by the Union Ministers and the MPs that has resulted in the Congress leadership coming out with a statement to allay the concerns of Seemandhra region. Minister for School Education Sake Sailajanath told The Hindu that constitution of a four-member committee of senior leaders was a big breakthrough. “From a stage where they were firm that no more consultations will take place, constitution of the committee is a way forward for us,” he said.

Ministers – Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Kasu Venkatakrishna Reddy, Kanna Lakhsminarayana, Kondru Murali Mohan, Erasu Pratap Reddy and, Vatti Vasant Kumar -- are already in New Delhi.