Congress, TDP supporting State division: Jagan

Hyderabad: YSR Congress Party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Telugu Desam Party and the Congress, alleging that they were supporting bifurcation of the State for the sake of votes and seats. Addressing the Seemandhra lawyers JAC at his residence, Jagan said that the decision of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) was not acceptable to anyone. About 60 per cent of the people in the State were on the roads and fighting against the bifurcation of state. When they were craving for united State, the efforts put by the Congress to carve out Telangana state will render injustice to them, Jagan said.

He warned that the political parties which were supporting division of the State would be treated as ‘betrayers’ in the history. Jagan said the bifurcation of state was a wrong step and warned that the state would turn into a ‘desert’ if it was divided for political benefits. The JAC leaders sought the support of Jagan to intensify the ongoing united Andhra Pradesh agitation.

Explaining the problems of water-sharing which would be faced by the two regions in case the State was divided, Jagan said the Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and South Telangana districts would bear the brunt because Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar reservoirs would not get Krishna water after bifurcation. “Water wars will take place between the two states.” He also said that the entire stretch from Kuppam to Srikakulam would face an acute water crisis if the State was divided.

The YSRCP leader pointed out that since the state capital alone contributed to 50 per cent of the total state revenue, the financial position would also be weakened in the Seemandhra state. Revenues generated in that State would not meet even the expenditure on employees salaries.

Stressing the need to adhere to ‘honesty’ in the politics, Jagan said he would be the first person to sign on the draft being prepared by JAC to seek the support of leaders of all political parties to keep the state united.

Likewise, every political party head should also sign on it. At present, CPM, AIMIM and his party were strongly opposing bifurcation of the state.