The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : YSR: bifurcation may lead to extremism

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 15, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

YSR: bifurcation may lead to extremism

Telangana issue is “complex and delicate”
Says Chhattisgarh is being affected by extremism

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy quoted Central and State intelligence inputs on Thursday as suggesting that there was scope for the extremist problem to escalate in the event of bifurcation of the State

Dr. Reddy said separate Telangana was a “complex and delicate” issue which could not be resolved “today itself”. He counselled TRS members to await the decision of the Congress high command which was examining it from all angles. Citing how Chhattisgarh was severely affected by extremist problem, he said the naxalites were also seeking a separate State.

The Chief Minister was making his first ever detailed statement on the Telangana issue in the Assembly after it was rocked for the third day by placard-waving Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) members. All 13 of them were suspended and some bodily lifted out but the suspension was revoked later. Even in the Council, three TRS members were suspended till February 18 after Chairman A. Chakrapani rejected their demand for admitting an adjournment motion.

Recalling the two separatist movements that rocked the State more than three decades ago, he said the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi convinced the people to live harmoniously in an integrated State. Referring to the efforts of the UPA committee headed by Pranab Mukherjee to build a consensus on Telangana, he said some parties supported formation of a separate State, while others opposed it. The TDP which initially favoured an integrated State was now saying that an appropriate decision would be taken at an appropriate time.

Mr. Mukherjee tried to speak to all stakeholders, including leaders from different regions. Some wanted greater Rayalaseema by including Nellore and Prakasam districts, while others wanted statehood for north coastal Andhra comprising three districts. Still others, including representatives of some political parties, wanted a State to be carved out from Greater Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy district. In such circumstances, the problem was left to the Congress high command to be resolved.

He said the Congress had promised in its manifesto to constitute a States’ Reorganisation Commission but it was no longer relevant as it was vehemently opposed by the TRS and a section of Congress leaders. He recalled that former TRS leader A. Narendra had signed a letter before the elections that both the parties were agreeing for second SRC.

Dr. Reddy sought to clarify that he was not standing in the way of formation of Telangana but was only trying as Chief Minister to develop all backward regions. Appealing to the TRS to work together with the Congress in the development of every backward region, he said both these parties ran the risk of being weakened if there was confusion as happened in the Zilla Parshad elections.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh