Why Anantapuramu people oppose division

The CWC decision to split the state is highly detrimental to Seemandhra people. Anantapuramu district, being what it is, will certainly become a desert, and the farmers in the area will have to work as agriculture labourers in T state

We, the people of Anantapuramu, vehemently oppose the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh for the following reasons:

For the first time in the history of post-independent India, a linguistic state is proposed to be divided and it will certainly have a" domino effect", fuelling demands for separate states from other parts of the country. This will trigger regional chauvinism and embolden separatist forces which ultimately threaten the very unity and integrity of this great country.

Secondly, the Congress Working Committee decision to split the state is highly detrimental to the people living in Rayalaseema and Andhra regions. Anantapuramu district, being what it is, will certainly become a desert, and the farmers in the area will have to work as agriculture labourers in Telangana state. The separatists in Telangana are at a geographically advantageous position to create hurdles and sharing of waters of Godavari and Krishna rivers is going to become a bone of contention between the two people speaking the same language.

It is no exaggeration to say that wars will be waged over river waters. Even the Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, like a statesman that he is, has prophesied and openly expressed the same view before the CWC in the larger interest of the nation. Denied drinking water and irrigation facilities, farmers in Seemandhra, particularly in Anantapuramu district, will be forced to commit suicides.

Thirdly, our students and youth will be denied education and employment opportunities in Hyderabad city which is a promised land for the students, unemployed youth and IAS-aspirants from the three regions of Andhra Pradesh right from1956. The Hyderabad city, the promised land, besides being a land of opportunities, is also a health capital , suitable for all sections of the people in the state.

Bifurcation will deny those health benefits to the people and employees of Seemandhra. Fourthly, a new state will have meagre economic resources and this will result in lack of development. Sixty percent of the people are below poverty level as per the available statistics.

Consequently, the poorer sections among the Scheduled Castes, Tribes, Backward Classes, minorities will become poorest and pessimistically speaking, Seemandhra will become another Somalia. Fifthly, there will be social unrest, conflicts, and law and order problems, due to unemployment. Anti-national, anti social forces along with forces of factionalism will raise their ugly head and try to disintegrate the Indian society.

Employees are most important constituents of the society and their apprehensions have not been addressed. In simple terms, bifurcation means end of the prevalent zonal system and this will lead to a situation where, an employee from Anantapuramu will be transferred to Icchapuramu of Srikakulam district and vice versa. The service matters of pensioners also is a big question mark.

Finally, the decision of CWC is unilateral, in the sense they have not consulted the people of the two regions worst affected. Mere talking to MPs, MLAs, MLCs is not enough. People are supreme in our country. People's mandate is for united Andhra Pradesh. People are the high command for samaikyavadis in Seemandhra.

Governments, both at the Centre and the states, should focus their energy and attention on governance and not on formation of new states which are likely to create internal strife. We compliment the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for bringing in landmark legislations, like food security and land acquisition. The people at the helm, should understand that India is a union of states. People are for an indestructible and strong union of equally strong and indestructible states.

Despotic decisions to destroy the states for political reasons are not good for the country. Therefore, eminent jurists and constitutional experts should think of amending the Article 3 of the Indian Constitution, which gives enormous powers to the Parliament and the government of the day. Hence, we the people demand for a commission to be appointed, which will tour all the mandals in Seemandhra districts and elicit the views and apprehensions of the people and submit a report to the Central government. Till such time, the bifurcation process, like cabinet note, presidential reference to the State Assembly, resolution in the State Assembly, and introduction of a Bill in the Parliamnet, should be deferred, in the larger interest of peace, law and order in the State of Andhra Pradesh.

(The writer is freelance nutritionist and home maker)