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Bifurcation of State - The Union Ministers representing Seemandhra region on Thursday met A K Antony committee and discussed the present political situation in the region for about two hours and urged them to put on hold at least temporarily the process of bifurcation of the state so that tempers could cool down.
- Postpone T decision at least temporarily
- Committee to meet again on August 19-20
- Digvijay Singh to visit Hyderabad soon
Hyderabad/New Delhi: The Union Ministers representing Seemandhra region on Thursday met A K Antony committee and discussed the present political situation in the region for about two hours and urged them to put on hold at least temporarily the process of bifurcation of the state so that tempers could cool down.
Though the ministers pleaded that the committee visit Hyderabad so that other stake holders like APNGOs can present their point of view and explain their apprehensions, doubts and fears, AICC general secretary in charge of state affairs Digvijay Singh told media that it would not be possible for all the committee members to come to Hyderabad since parliament was in session but he would visit the city on behalf of the committee and all those who want could make representations to him.
Earlier, the ministers met at the house of Union Minister of State for Tourism K Chiranjeevi and resolved to demand that the state be kept united. If the high command still insisted on bifurcation, they decided to ask for constitution of the Second State’s Reorganisation Commission so that all the apprehensions, fears and sense of insecurity that had creeped into the minds of the people from Seemandhra could be addressed and solutions found.
The ministers told the Antony committee that the status of Hyderabad had become the bone of contention and cause of fears and sense of insecurity among the employees and all those who had been staying in this part for decades. The ministers also reiterated their demand that Hyderabad be made a union territory or a permanent capital. They said the Congress party and the government had to address all the issues being raised by the people of Seemandhra before the process moved forward.
Pallamraju and Chiranjeevi later told the media that they had presented the full facts about the present situation in the state and the intensity of the agitation in Seemandhra region. The problems that might arise from bifurcation of the state and the complications were highlighted before the committee and demanded that “equal justice,” to all regions should be done, they said.
Asked if that could be construed as giving their nod for bifurcation, Chiranjeevi said it was not so. “It only means that injustice should not be done to any region,” he added. Chiranjeevi said that the committee would meet again on August 19 and 20 when MPs and MLAs from Seemandhra region would meet them. It would also hold more sittings if necessary, the minister said. The ministers who met the Antony Committee included Pallam Raju, S Kishore Chandra Deo, Panabaka Lakshmi, J D Seelam, Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, D Purandreswari, K Chiranjeevi and Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy. MP Chinta Mohan also accompanied them.
Digvijay Singh told Seemandhra ministers that the Antony Committee had recognized their problems. It was in this context that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had set up Antony Committee, with a view to sorting out the issues and addressing their concerns. However, it was conveyed to the Seemandhra leaders that the issues being raised should be within the framework of the CWC Resolution on July 30. That decision could neither be reviewed nor any rethink possible on it. The Seemandhra leaders were told that they were welcome to raise concerns and to get them addressed.
The main thrust was on keeping Andhra Pradesh united, reflecting the groundswell of support for it in the Seemandhra region, besides highlighting the problems that would follow the CWC decision on the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Problems of farmers following water-sharing problems, workers problems, NGOs problems and problems of students and those from the Seemandhra region, who were settled in Hyderabad, were all detailed before Antony Committee. According to HRD Minister M M Pallam Raju, Digvijay Singh indicated his readiness to visit Hyderabad, since other members of Antony Committee were preoccupied with the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament and could leave the capital.
Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi said the Union Ministers highlighted the ground situation in the Seemandhra region. “We demanded that justice should be done to both sides,” he said. Earlier in the day, all the Union Ministers met at the residence of Chiranjeevi, where it was decided that they would have to put up a united face before the Committee.
