CM cleared

No action against him, says Digvijay

• Says he has spoken to CM and was satisfied he never challenged the CWC decision. His was a logical stand
• The decision to bifurcate state is irreversible l Antony panel to start functioning from August 13
• Reminds YSRCP it was YSR who initiated the division in 1999
• Asks NGOs, students to call off agitation
• People can do business anywhere and no bar on students in Hyd

Venkat Parsa

New Delhi: No action will be taken against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy by the Congress High Command for his recent remarks on the issues relating to Seemandhra. This was declared Digvijay Singh, AICC general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday. Digvijay Singh reiterated that there was no going back on the process for the creation of Telangana. The Telangana process had not stopped and the process would continue, he said, asserting that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) decision was binding on all.

Digvijay Singh told media persons, “There is no question of any action against the Chief Minister. He has spoken to be me and I am quite satisfied.” Defending the remarks, Digvijay Singh said Kiran Reddy never challenged the CWC decision. All that he has said was that there were certain issues arising from the decision on the formation of Telangana, which should be resolved before the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. It was a logical stand, he said.

Reacting to the resignations of Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and Y S Vijayamma in support of Seemandhra, Digvijay Singh reminded them that it was Y S Rajashekhar Reddy, who had initiated the move for the division of the state way back in 1999, as the elected Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader. Later, YSR was party to the Congress alliance with the TRS in 2003 and the Congress Election Manifesto in 2004 that favoured creation of Telangana.

YSR was party to the statement he made as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister on February 12, 2009, making a commitment on Telangana. “The Congress always holds YSR in high esteem, as he was dynamic and progressive,” Digvijay Singh said.

Digvijay Singh appealed to the NGOs, students and others agitating in the Seemandhra region to call off their agitation and to address all issues and problems to Antony Committee. “We shall ensure that their concerns are addressed,” he said.

Responding to the concerns on employment and education, Digvijay Singh put a counter poser. Are not all students studying in Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai or other Metros, he asked. “I would also like to point out that in a democratic, free country, every citizen is free to do business in any part of the country,” said Digvijay Singh.

Rejecting the view that the Congress rushed into taking a decision, Digvijay Singh asserted that the decision was taken only after talking to all political parties and after a consensus emerged on the issue. It was only then that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) took the decision, he said. People may say one thing and do quite another. The Congress took the decision after detailed discussions and deliberations Digvijay Singh said, “Antony Committee would start meeting from Tuesday evening.” The process has to be done by the government and the Congress will only contribute to that process.

Once Antony Committee work gets under way, the process of addressing concerns of the people of Seemandhra region will be set in motion, which is expected to help in restoring a semblance of normalcy in the Seemandhra region. The Congress High Command is very clear on the issue.

Telangana process is irreversible and there is no stopping it and the process will go on. In fact, Antony Committee has been mooted in order to address the issues arising from the decision on Telangana, so that the process of creation of Telangana can be a smooth affair. He said the CWC had promised economic package to less developed areas and people need not agitate in this regard.

CM for Delhi on Tuesday

Hyderabad: The Congress high command which feels that the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy had taken a logical view while raising certain issues in regard to the bifurcation of the state during his press conference on Thursday, has asked Kiran to be available in New Delhi on Tuesday when the A K Antony panel would commence its hearing on the apprehensions being raised by Seemandhra leaders and people. Kiran is likely to leave for New Delhi on Tuesday morning. The PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana is already in Delhi.