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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Ruckus at meeting on separate State

Special Correspondent

Debate on making Hyderabad a ‘central zone' triggers protest

Hyderabad issue being raised only by Reddys and Kammas: Katti Padma Rao
Meeting unanimously favours bifurcation of State in a cordial atmosphere

HYDERABAD: A round table meeting organised by various organisations in support of bifurcation of the State ended on a stormy note here on Wednesday when the status of Hyderabad after separation came up for discussion.

Sparks flew towards the end of the meeting when former Home Minister Vasantha Nageswara Rao, the main speaker, wanted Hyderabad to be made a ‘central zone' accessible to both States.

Hyderabad capital

Dalit activist and writer Katti Padma Rao raised his voice at the comment. He alleged that the demand for Hyderabad as central zone came only from leaders of Reddy and Kamma castes who exploited the State all these years.

He wanted Telangana with Hyderabad as capital and reigns of power to go to weaker sections and backward classes in both States.

Padma Rao criticised

Mr. Padma Rao was immediately shouted down by other participants, including a law professor from Scheduled Castes G. Vinod Kumar who accused the former of supporting upper caste leadership by TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao. Later, a few others also confronted Mr. Padma Rao for targeting Reddys and Kammas.

The proceedings began generating heat as Mr. Nageswara Rao recalled “jago, bhago” slogans of Telangana supporters.

‘Slogans hurting'

To prove that people from coastal districts were good Samaritans when they were victims of such slogans in the past, he narrated an instance where he went to the rescue of a woman whose clothes were torn while being driven away from Telangana in 1972.

Mr. Nageswara Rao said the slogans hurt migrant population from coastal districts as they shifted to Hyderabad due to reorganisation of Madras State comprising Telugu speaking people.

They would have developed much more if Andhra State was formed with Vijayawada, Rajahmundry or Ongole as capital.

Mr. Padma Rao shot back saying only TRS president raised the slogan and no one else.

The meeting was earlier unanimous that the State be separated in a cordial atmosphere as brothers.

The convenor of Andhra intellectuals forum Chalasani Srinivas said irrigation and not Hyderabad was the crux of the problem for separation. Veteran leader Konda Laxman Bapuji and Telangana settlers forum chairperson Katragadda Prasuna also spoke.

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