AGP to back united AP stir

Kurnool: Asom Gana Parishad president and MP Joseph Tipo said on Thursday pledged the party’s complete support to the Samaikyandhra agitation to keep the State united.

He said the party was opposed to the State’s division, while speaking at a huge public meeting at the Old Bus Stand, here, jointly organised by the Samaikyandra-JAC and the Vishalandhra Mahasabha, as the chief guest.

Former president of the National Samata Party Krishna Rao said that the Article 371 D was included in the Constitution to keep the State united. If the State has to be divided, an amendment to the Article was required with two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha.

He described as ‘unfortunate’ the stand of the Central Ministers that it was enough if the Telangana Bill was passed in Parliament, without being introduced in the State Assembly. Rao lashed out at the Seemandhra Union Ministers, like Panabaka Lakshmi, D Purandeswari and K Chiranjeevi , for lobbying to secure financial packages, instead of fighting to keep the State united.They should resign from the Union Cabinet immediately, he demanded.

Vishalandhra leader Srinivasulu Reddy said the people of Kurnool had sacrificed the capital city when Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1956. If the Seemandhra Ministers resigned even now, the Centre would not go ahead with the process of State bifurcation.

The Samaikyandhra-JAC leaders warned of intensifying the movement if the UPA government went ahead with the State’s division.