‘Sops to Seemandhra may remain on paper’

Hyderabad: Former Union Minister Daggubati Purandeswari who formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday said that she does not believe that the Centre would fulfill the promises it had made while passing the State Reorganisation Bill 2014 in Rajya Sabha. Speaking to the media at her residence, she said most of the promises made by the Centre would not stand legal scrutiny.

She said even the ordinance according special category status had not been endorsed by the President of India. She said the reports in media that the President had sent back the ordinance giving special status to Seemandhra caused more distress to her. She said it now appeared that whatever sops the Centre had announced under pressure in Rajya Sabha would remain as poll promises.

The only ray of hope for the people of Seemandhra, Purandeswari said, is that the BJP would come to power soon and would address all the concerns of the successor State. She said the central leaders did not pay any heed to their demands. Instead of taking the party leaders and lawmakers into confidence, top leaders of the party including Union Minister Jairam Ramesh knocked on the doors of all including BJP leadership seeking help to get the bill passed. Whatever sops they announced were done under pressure of the BJP, she added.

Asked about the comments made by Jairam Ramesh that she proved to be a betrayer and she had left the party because the Centre did not agree to construct port at Ramayampatnam, Purandeswari said it was an unfor tunate comment. She denied the allegations that she had made such a demand and also said that she did not own 1000 acres as alleged by Jairam Ramesh.

“They are absolutely unfounded.” She said. She had told AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi that Dugarajapatnam port was not suitable place since it was nearer to Sriharikota Space centre and Pulicat lake bird sanctuary.