Kiran spits fire at Sonia, PM

Chief Minister lambasts them a day after Diggy said CM never spoke against high command and ruled out any action

They willfully dealt ‘death blow’ to Congress in Andhra Pradesh

Both are disrespecting the opinion of the majority in the State

It is for Seemandhra MPs, Ministers to stall the Bill now

Says he is ready for any eventuality including expulsion

Hyderabad: Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has charged AICC president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with having dealt a “death blow” to the Congress party in Andhra Pradesh.

In an interview to Karan Thapar of CNN-IBN, which was telecast on Sunday, he said both these leaders had willfully “decimated” the party in the State. Kiran said they failed to understand the problems that would arise out of the bifurcation of the State. They were disrespecting people’s views.

Taking strong exception to the manner in which the Centre was pushing ahead with the Bill, Kiran said that he was fully aware of the consequences when he had taken up the fight for united Andhra Pradesh. Refuting that he had made a mockery of the Constitution by staging a dharna at Jantar Mantar, Kiran said that he did nothing wrong. “I only followed Gandhian path and I was not alone. Even Union Ministers, MPs, MLAs and MLCs participated in it,” he said.

When asked why he had not chosen the more “sensible” wayout to resign instead of making a mockery of the Constitution, Kiran said he did not think so. “Dharna was to highlight an issue. It does not amount to defying the party and cannot be construed as revolt against the Prime Minister or Sonia Gandhi.”

He said his protest reflected the opinion of 75-80 percent of the people who were opposed to bifurcation.

To another query, Kiran said resignation was one of the options available to him and added that he was prepared for any eventuality including being sacked by his party for his fight to keep the State united.

Reddy said that he was loyal to Congress but people's will was bigger than party. "Power or chief ministership is not bigger to me than the will of the people. When I took up the fight for a united state, I was prepared for everything and took it up. I know what I'm doing," said a defiant Reddy.

Kiran took strong objection to the break-neck speed with which the Centre was acting on T issue. He also refuted the charge that he was trying to ride two horses. He said he was opposing the manner in which the Centre was refusing to respect the will of the people.

“So far they have not explained why they want to divide the State when 75-80 percent of the people are opposed to it,” he said. This decision of the Centre would result in “zero electoral prospects and will be a death blow to the Congress in the State.” Expressing his ire at the Centre, he said if the views of the Assembly had no value why did they send the Bill to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly; they could have sent it to Karnataka or some other Assembly, he quipped.

When pointed out that the high command was seething with anger over the dharna he had staged in New Delhi, causing embarrassment to the party, and may ask him to quit any time, Kiran said, “I know I am not permanent CM. I am the 16th CM of this State and I want that there should be 17th, 18th 20thCMs of united Andhra Pradesh.”

Asked if he was ready to quit if asked to do so early next week, Kiran said he had been a loyal Congressman for 20 years but in spite of that he was protesting. “You have to understand people’s feelings and that is more important than loyalty,” he added. To another question, he said it was now for the MPs and Union Ministers from the region to see that the Bill was stopped in Parliament. On the statements of Sabbam Hari and Lagadapati Rajagopal who have threatened not to allow the Parliament to function, Kiran said it was for them to ensure that the Bill would not be passed, “but personally I am opposed to any act that is unparliamentary.”