The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Vijayashanti determined to achieve separate State of Telangana

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Vijayashanti determined to achieve separate State of Telangana

Sumit Bhattacharjee

Aims to make the statehood movement people-centric

VISAKHAPATNAM: The `Lady Amitabh' of Tollywood (Vijayashanti) seems to be gearing up to play the macho role in real life for Telangana Statehood. And she promises that the showdown is nearing and it will not end in an anti-climax.

In an exclusive interview to The Hindu , she said, "I have quit the Bharatiya Janata Party only to take up the cause of Telangana. My main aim is to make the movement people-centric. So far it was only the leaders' movement. Now I intend taking up the cause to the people directly and see that they agitate and get their State."

On quitting the BJP, Vijayashanti said she had no ill feeling towards the party. "I was happy with the party and also enjoyed a cordial relationship with the leaders, especially with L.K. Advani and A.B. Vajpayee, my political mentors, but what upset me is their keeping mum on the Telangana issue despite knowing the region's plight."

At the same time justifying the BJP's silence on the issue she said, "The BJP has little to say in Andhra as Chandrababu Naidu is its unofficial leader. Both the party and myself could not come out openly as Mr. Naidu believed and advocated a `Samaikhya Andhra'. When the water started flowing over our heads I called it quits."

`Naidu should be honest'

Why was she against `Samaikhya Andhra'? "The theory of `Samaikhya Andhra' does not hold water today. This should have been the agenda from the very beginning. Telangana has been a part of the State since 1956. Then why is it being neglected? Today when people of the region want a separate State for their development, Mr. Naidu is talking of `Samaikhya Andhra' and Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy is talking of a second SRC. If Mr. Naidu is really honest about his `Samaikhya Andhra' then let him promise that he would make a Dalit from the Telangana region as the Chief Minister when his party comes to power. Only then people of the region will accept his theory."

Action plan not ready

On her plan of action, Vijayashanti said: "My agitation is still in its nascent stage. I am yet to formulate a clear plan. To start with I will be meeting a few intellectuals in Hyderabad to know their opinion and then go to the people directly, which will be followed by massive agitations from all quarters. I have no faith in any political party and neither will I associate myself with any one of them be it the Telangana Rashtra Samithi or the Congress."

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