The Hindu : Industrialists for unity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 15, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Industrialists for unity

By Our Special Correspondent

VISAKHAPATNAM, MARCH 14. The Federation of Andhra Pradesh Industries (FAPI) is launching a movement to protect the unity of the State.

The movement would be launched from Balanagar, Ranga Reddy district on March 21, Ugadi day, keeping politics away, said B. V. Rama Rao, federation president.

Speaking to newspersons today, Mr. Rama Rao came down heavily on some persons for raising the bogey of separate Telangana to serve their own political ends. He felt that separation would not be in the interest of people. It would only aggravate river water disputes and hinder development. He said he had toured several parts of Telangana and found that people yearned for unity. Following the sacrifice made by Potti Sreeramulu, linguistic States were formed and Andhra Pradesh came into being in 1956 fulfilling the long-felt need of Telugu people. Though separatist movements surfaced both in Telangana and Andhra, they did not last long for want of support from people, he contended. So FAPI took upon itself the task of protecting the integrity of Andhra Pradesh by launching the movement.

Mr. Rama Rao said all those who are interested in unity of the State would be invited to the March 21 meeting where a steering committee would be formed to take the movement forward. It would be spread to all districts in phases. Answering questions, he said he wanted to contest in the coming Assembly elections on Telugu Desam Party ticket but asserted that the movement for unity of State would be run keeping politics away.

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Andhra Pradesh