NEW CHAPTER: TUDA Chairperson B. Karunakar Reddy handing over the first copy of the book on Rayalaseema to T.G.Venkatesh, former MLA, in Tirupati on Friday. Author of the book K. Rami Reddy is also seen.

TIRUPATI: The president of Rayalaseema Hakkula Ikya Vedika and former Kurnool MLA, T.G. Venkatesh, has blamed Chief Minister

Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy for giving more to Telangana than what it actually deserves, only to keep the politicians of the region in good humour.

At a media conference here on Friday, he said that the Chief Minister had doled out a number of sops to Telangana more out of compulsion, while meting out a raw deal to the equally-backward Rayalaseema, in order to avoid being seen as a pro-Seema leader. This, he said, was "absolutely unnecessary".

Mr.Venkatesh said that though two Chief Ministers hailed from the region, neither of them stood up to the aspirations of the public. More than a boon, it turned out to be a bane, as the public could not press for their demands vociferously with their own leaders.

Continued neglect

He demanded that the software park proposed at Tirupati be expedited, while seeking smaller parks and sports stadia in other districts too.

He wanted a Rs.10,000 crore floriculture project be set up in Chittoor district. A book, `History of Rayalaseema and its rights over Krishna waters', was released at a function organised by the Institution of Engineers.

The book, authored by a retired IAS officer K. Rami Reddy, who had formerly headed the State

Irrigation Development Corporation, focussed on the region's water sources, continued neglect, lost opportunities and unavailed rights, Bachawat award, the quandary of surplus waters and also the facts vis-a-vis the Pothireddypadu controversy.

All the speakers at the function unanimously maintained that the region had a legitimate right over Krishna waters, citing Meckenzie plan of 1890 and Sribagh pact. TUDA Chairman B. Karunakar Reddy said that the book would make one understand that it was the `ditched' Rayalaseema that had every right to demand separate statehood.

The president of Rayalaseema Hakkula Ikya Vedika, T.G. Venkatesh, appealed to the Seema public to start thinking about their lost rights.

Noted Rayalaseema researcher, Bhuman, termed as "unnecessary" the controversy raging over Pothireddypadu head regulator. The Institution of Engineers chairman Kesava Rao presided.

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