Divergent voices favouring merger of Rayalaseema with Telangana and creation of Greater Rayalaseema forced a meeting of Congress legislators here on Wednesday to unanimously pitch for maintaining the present status of Andhra Pradesh.
The meeting, attended by about two dozen MLAs and MLCs of Congress and Praja Rajyam from the Rayalaseema region, saw former Minister J.C. Diwakar Reddy while supporting a united Andhra Pradesh, gave an altogether new dimension to the statehood issue by saying that Rayalaseema would suffer the most if the State was bifurcated.
“If the State is divided, Andhra region has nothing to lose but Rayalaseema will have to depend on Telangana for every drop of river water. In such a scenario, it is better to merge Rayalaseema with Telangana,” he observed.
‘Humiliation'
He was joined by Yemmiganur MLA K.C. Keshava Reddy who wanted a full stop to humiliation of Rayalaseema people in Hyderabad by branding them as settlers.
Srisailam MLA Erasu Pratap Reddy wanted creation of Greater Rayalaseema, if bifurcation became necessary.
But, after a two-hour meeting where PR legislators were also present, the leaders stuck to their opposition to carving out a new State. Telugu Desam Party legislators skipped the meeting.
Leaders recalled the sacrifice made by Andhra/Rayalaseema by way of shifting the State capital from Kurnool and High Court at Guntur to Hyderabad in the overall interests of Telugu-speaking people.
Instead of bifurcation, they wanted the Central and State governments to identify most backward areas in all the three regions for sustained development.
Government Whip Sake Sailajanath said the need to maintain present status of united Andhra Pradesh and ensuring all-round development of the State would form part of their report to the panel. Kurnool MLA T.G. Venkatesh said another meeting would be held on March 18 to fine-tune the report. Congress MLC Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy wanted the legislators to fight to protect the rights of Rayalaseema, while PR MLA Shoba Nagi Reddy said her party was always in favour of united AP.
Showing posts with label Rayalaseema. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rayalaseema. Show all posts
Friday, March 12, 2010
Rayalaseema merger proposal rejected
A day after former Minister J.C. Diwakar Reddy suggested merger of Rayalaseema with Telangana, in the event of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana Congress leaders rejected his idea.
Reactions ranging from complete outrage to polite rejection were witnessed with former Minister R. Damodar Reddy launching a tirade against Mr. Diwakar Reddy terming his remark an attempt to confuse people.
“Telangana has suffered more because of Rayalaseema leaders.
“Anti-social elements from Rayalaseema have hijacked Hyderabad and are indulging in land grabbing,” he remarked.
Reactions ranging from complete outrage to polite rejection were witnessed with former Minister R. Damodar Reddy launching a tirade against Mr. Diwakar Reddy terming his remark an attempt to confuse people.
“Telangana has suffered more because of Rayalaseema leaders.
“Anti-social elements from Rayalaseema have hijacked Hyderabad and are indulging in land grabbing,” he remarked.
Diwakar’s cup of T on Seema has no takers
The proposal of former minister, Mr J.C. Diwakar Reddy, to merge Rayalaseema region with Telangana in case the Justice Srikrishna Committee recommends bifurcation of the state has not gone down well with several Telangana leaders.
Many of them cutting across party lines have rejected the plan outright. The former minister and senior Congress legislator, Mr R. Damodar Reddy said, “Injustice to the Telangana region was done during the rule of Chief Ministers hailing from Rayalaseema region. The people of Telangana are frightened of them. Several goons from that region have come here and illegally occupied prime lands in Hyderabad. How can we accept such a proposal from Mr Diwakar Reddy?” he asked.
“Slowly the slogan of United AP is fading. The structure of united Andhra is collapsing like a pack of cards,” said Prof. Kodandaram, convener of Telangana JAC. “That is a good sign for those who want the state to be bifurcated, but I can never welcome Mr Diwakar Reddy’s suggestion on Rayala-Telangana. It is absurd,” he said.
Another former minister, Mr K. Jana Reddy, said that till Justice Srikrishna panel submits its reports on bifurcation of the state it would be better for senior leaders of parties not to make comments. “Those making proposals for mergers and separations should submit their arguments before the panel and keep quiet,” he said.
Many of them cutting across party lines have rejected the plan outright. The former minister and senior Congress legislator, Mr R. Damodar Reddy said, “Injustice to the Telangana region was done during the rule of Chief Ministers hailing from Rayalaseema region. The people of Telangana are frightened of them. Several goons from that region have come here and illegally occupied prime lands in Hyderabad. How can we accept such a proposal from Mr Diwakar Reddy?” he asked.
“Slowly the slogan of United AP is fading. The structure of united Andhra is collapsing like a pack of cards,” said Prof. Kodandaram, convener of Telangana JAC. “That is a good sign for those who want the state to be bifurcated, but I can never welcome Mr Diwakar Reddy’s suggestion on Rayala-Telangana. It is absurd,” he said.
Another former minister, Mr K. Jana Reddy, said that till Justice Srikrishna panel submits its reports on bifurcation of the state it would be better for senior leaders of parties not to make comments. “Those making proposals for mergers and separations should submit their arguments before the panel and keep quiet,” he said.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Telangana developed in all spheres: TGV
The Rayalaseema Hakkula Ikya Vedika convenor and Kurnool MLA, Mr T.G. Venkatesh, said that Telangana had developed better than Andhra and Rayalaseema regions in the state.
Speaking to newsmen here on Tuesday, he said that the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) demanded a separate Telangana state by citing backwardness in the region but official figures indicated that development in the region was better off than in the Rayalaseema and An-dhra regions.
He said that districts surrounding Hyderabad had witnessed development and Telangana stood first in the state in the education, health, and irrigation sectors and in per capita income.
Mr Venkatesh said that the TRS leaders were making baseless allegations against Rayalaseema and Andhra leaders as they had realised that a Telangana state was not possible on the pretext of backwardness in the region. He alleged that there was support for the unified state principle in Hyderabad as TRS leaders had not contested the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections, as they knew that they would lose even their deposits.
He said that people were aware of the minister, Mr Botsa Satyanarayana’s comments and they would teach him a lesson. He said the Praja Rajyam and the Telugu Desam had changed their stand after seeing pro-unified state movement.
Speaking to newsmen here on Tuesday, he said that the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) demanded a separate Telangana state by citing backwardness in the region but official figures indicated that development in the region was better off than in the Rayalaseema and An-dhra regions.
He said that districts surrounding Hyderabad had witnessed development and Telangana stood first in the state in the education, health, and irrigation sectors and in per capita income.
Mr Venkatesh said that the TRS leaders were making baseless allegations against Rayalaseema and Andhra leaders as they had realised that a Telangana state was not possible on the pretext of backwardness in the region. He alleged that there was support for the unified state principle in Hyderabad as TRS leaders had not contested the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections, as they knew that they would lose even their deposits.
He said that people were aware of the minister, Mr Botsa Satyanarayana’s comments and they would teach him a lesson. He said the Praja Rajyam and the Telugu Desam had changed their stand after seeing pro-unified state movement.
