Baireddypalli, (Chittoor dist): Questioning the rationale behind the talk of Rayala Telangana, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has hit back at the Centre as to why does it not merge all the 13 districts and call it Telangana State.
“We have no objection if all the 13 districts are merged with Telangana and call it a State but splitting Rayalaseema into two is irrational and impractical. This shows the arrogance of Delhi which thinks that it can act according to its whims and fancies and people will remain mute spectators."
"But the Telugu pride supersedes Delhi’s unrealistic plans. Instead of splitting Kurnool and Ananthapuram from Rayalaseema and merging it with Telangana, people will be happy if all the districts of Seemandhra are merged with Telangana and give the same name to the State,” he told at a public meeting held here on Monday.
The Samaikhya Shankaravam Yatra has begun in the last assembly constituency (number 294) and will go on to Srikakulam with an earnest effort to change the mindset of leaders and mobilize public support in favour of a united State.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and Leader of Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu are bent upon dividing the State without taking into consideration, the assembly, the mood of the people and opinion of the leaders.
“Their main aim is to get political mileage out of the division. Sonia Gandhi wants her son to be Prime Minister, Chandrababu Naidu wants to save his skin and he has given his consent in writing and has been asking for pacakage, Kiran Kumar Reddy is talking of a united state but in reality is helping high command to expedite the process," the YSR Congress chief said.
"We should send strong signals to the state and nation that we need a united state and the division that is going on is undemocratic and the decision was taken in a dictatorial manner. You should question Kiran Kumar Reddy and Chandrababu Naidu as to why they are unable to see the dire consequences that would arise out of the division, from capital to water sharing to jobs."
"You should question them pointedly and voice your concern through ballot. If we win more than 30 parliament seats, a person who agrees for a united state will be the Prime Minister," he said amidst loud applause.
"Water sharing is a contentious issue. The moment, the division issue has flared up the upper riparian states of Maharashtra and Karnataka have increased their claim on the Krishna River waters and the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal verdict went against our appeal," he added.
"As things stand, we are getting water only after the needs of Maharashtra and Karnataka are fulfilled. When the state is divided, the situation will worsen further and if farmers question the leaders, they will have no answer at all," Jagan told the crowd.
"Where will we get water to complete Handri Neeva, Galeru Nagari, Kalwakurthy , Bhima and Nettampadu projects," he questioned.
"People are asked to leave Hyderabad within ten years. Where will the educated youth look for jobs after the division, the leaders have to answer. Hyderabad contributes 50 to 60 % of the revenue and where will we get the money to pay the salaries and carry out the welfare schemes," he said.
"During the golden era of YSR, campus recruitments were around 57,000 annually. During the past three years it has come down to 25,000. People in power are trying to place Hyderabad city on one side and the sea shore on the other defying the parameters of balanced development."
"Telugu people have coexisted for 60 years and how can they be separated now. If Sonia Gandhi is asked to go back to her native land what would be her feeling and the Congress reaction," he asked.
"Both Kiran Kumar Reddy and N. Chandrababu Naidu are helping Sonia Gandhi in splitting the state for the sake of a few votes and seats. We have to change the political system that is decaying and bring in clean value based politics," he said.
This was the third day of his Samaikhya Shankaravam Yatra.
