Why Sonia is bent on dividing AP: TDP

New Delhi: The TDP on Thursday released its third bulletin in support of keeping Andhra Pradesh united. The latest TDP bulletin raised the moot question that when Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was instrumental in the formation of Andhra Pradesh and Indira Gandhi protected it from disintegration, why Congress President Sonia Gandhi is bent upon dividing Andhra Pradesh?

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru formed Andhra Pradesh on the principal of linguistic reorganisation of States. Within 20 years of formation of Andhra Pradesh, the States was pushed to the brink of division, fuelled by apprehensions of injustice to the people of Telangana and that they were reduced to the status of second-class citizens. But for the tough and very principled stand taken by Indira Gandhi, Andhra Pradesh would have been reduced to history by now, it pointed out.

It listed the salient aspects of the Gentlemen’s Agreement. Revenues collected from Telangana region should be spent on the development of the region. If Chief Minister is from one region, Deputy Chief Minister should be from the other region. Some sort of domicile rules should be prescribed for recruitments in services from Telangana area. Sale of agricultural land should be controlled by Telangana Regional Council, to be set up to secure the all-round development of the region. Although the Gentlemen’s Agreement was not implemented completely in letter and spirit, Justice B N Srikrishna Committee Report established that the amount spent in Telangana region was more than the revenue receipts from that region.

An agitation broke out in 1968 that rocked the State. At the height of the agitation, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi made a statement in Lok Sabha on April 11, 1969, dealing with the issues resulting in the agitation. Indira Gandhi said, “The overall aim is to ensure that the pace of development and the expansion of employment opportunities in Telangana is accelerated and condition are created for the balanced development of all parts of Andhra Pradesh.”

On February 18, 1970, the Central Government announced a series of measures, which inter-alia, announced a series of measures, included, widening of the subjects of the Telangana Regional Committee (TRC) and enlarging the powers of the TRC.

Accordingly, a Presidential Order was issued on March 7, 1970, by including theough amendment Article 371-D of the Constitution. A Presidential Order was issued through GO Ms No 674 on February 20, 1975, to mark the commencement of the implementation of the Six-Point Formula.

The TDP bulletin surmised that the earlier Governments demonstrated strong political will to keep the State united, despite massive agitations rocking the State. Indira Gandhi was quoted as saying in Parliament on December 21, 1972, that there is no State, which does not have a backward region.

“Relatively backward and advanced areas exist not only in all States but in different regions of the same State. In the Andhra region many members have drawn attention to areas such as Rayalaseema and Srikakulam. The Telangana region may be a backward region but it does have better-off areas,” stated Indira Gandhi.