Jagan courts arrest for united State

New Delhi: YSRCP supremo Y S Jaganmohan Reddy on Monday courted arrest in the capital, after a day-long protest demonstration at the Jantar-Mantar, demanding that Andhra Pradesh be kept united. In the evening, after a fiery speech to his supports, he sprang a surprise by leading them towards Parliament. As he reached Parliament Street, he was stopped and taken into custody.

Earlier addressing the gathering at his dharna, Jaganmohan Reddy mounted a frontal attack on Congress President Sonia Gandhi for her decision on bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, He described her as President of the Italian National Congress. “How would Sonia Gandhi, an Italian who obtained Indian citizenship, feel if her citizenship is cancelled and she is asked to leave India?” he asked.

The YSRCP leader reached out to the BJP, saying, “We will support anyone, who helps us keep Andhra Pradesh united and Narendra Modi is not an exception.”

Addressing the protest demonstration in the evening, Jaganmohan Reddy described the Congress-led UPA government more brutal that the British, who pursued the divide-and-rule policy.

The introduction of the Telangana Bill was undemocratic, he said. At the time of introduction of a Bill, the Speaker puts it to vote for grant of leave to introduce the Bill. It is after a majority of members say ‘ayes’ that leave is granted to introduce the Bill. When the Telangana Bill was brought, such procedure was not followed, he said. The AP Assembly had rejected the T Bill. Yet, the Bill was brought to Parliament. Such a trend should be discouraged. Otherwise, the Centre would start misusing Article 3 of the Constitution for its political ends, he said.

Jaganmohan Reddy said whenever a new State was carved out during the past 60 years, some principle and some procedure was followed. For instance, either it was based on the recommendation of the States Reorganisation Commission or on the basis f a Resolution passed in the parent State. In the case of Telangana, no such principle was followed. It was also brought close to the elections, showing that it was politically-motivated.

After division of Andhra Pradesh, both Telangana and Seemandhra will suffer. Why then the division, he asked. There will be no drinking water for Seemandhra, which would be left with sea water all around and no availability of drinking water. Farmers will be fighting water wars, as there would no water left for irrigation. “Hyderabad has the highest revenue receipts. If Seemandhra people are asked to leave Hyderabad, what will be the fate of Seemandhra region?” he asked.