CPIM demands Convening of all-party meet on Andhra Pradesh State division

The CPI(M) has picked holes in Samaikyandhra agitation and asserted that the stir lacked political goal and objective. The party, in the same breath, however, asserted that it would favour united Andhra Pradesh even if the doubts and issues pertaining to Hyderabad, sharing of irrigation, power, and employment etc. were addressed. 

It also wanted the Government to convene an all-party meeting on the proposed division of the State. Party State Secretary B.V. Raghavulu inaugurated Nanduri Prasada Rao Sramik Bhavan at Puchalapalli Sundaraiah Library at Durgapuram, Vijayawada on Sunday. On the occasion, the CPI(M) leader said that as wolves enter a flock, cheats have entered the agitation. 

Be it politicians or associations like RTC Employees Union or PRTU, they favoured/fought for Telangana Statehood and changed their version now. The TDP, Congress and the YSR Congress leaders were hoodwinking the people with their double speak. Those parties favoured division of State. 

However, the leaders in coastal and Rayalaseema were making a hue and cry for united Andhra. The Samaikyandhra protagonists should mount pressure on their leadership to make a statement in favour of united Andhra, he said.

The spirit of federalism, democracy and secularism would be at stake if the linguistic States were divided. The division would not stop just with Telangana. There were 25 more such demands like Gorkhaland. “The communal forces like BJP and MIM will reinforce with division of State. The situation will turn turtle with a strong Centre and weak States”, he opined. Indira Gandhi was forced to conduct elections after imposing `Emergency’ just because of strong States then, he added.

Mr. Raghavulu said that the Antony Committee was a political committee and had no legal sanctity. AICC president Sonia Gandhi announced that an official committee would be constituted to note the concerns of united Andhra protagonists. There was nothing new to hear the concerns, as the Government was bound to constitute the committee if the State were to be divided. 

So, it was necessary to discuss the issue threadbare. The Centre should convene an all-party meeting. It might not address the issue in totality, but would expose the true colours of the TDP, Congress and the YSR Congress, he said.

Members of Legislative Council K. Lashman Rao and Boddu Nageswara Rao, CPI(M) district secretary R. Raghu, city secretary Ch. Babu Rao, CITU city president R. Ajay Kumar, general secretary Muzzafer Ahmed and others were present. 

(Source : The Hindu)