Will explain to GoM the need to keep AP united: Kiran Kumar Reddy

Vijayawada: Reiterating his commitment to a united Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday said that he would explain the need for keeping the state unified to the GoM set up to look into the bifurcation issue.

Reddy was speaking at the state government's 'Rachabanda' mass contact programme at Jaggaihpet in Krishna district about 80 Kms from here.

The chief minister is scheduled to meet the Union Group of Ministers (GoM) on the state bifurcation issue in New Delhi on November 18. "I am very unhappy and sorry about the CWC and Union Government's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh," Reddy said.

"I am committed for the cause of unified Andhra Pradesh and believe that the state would develop in a big way only if it remains undivided. The division would give rise to many problems. Many issues, which may arise due to it, cannot be solved easily. Therefore, I would explain the need for a unified state to the GoM," he added.

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He lashed out at TDP president Chandrababu Naidu and YSR Congress party president Jagan Mohan Reddy's for writing letters expressing their support for the formation of Telangana. Stating that the movement for a unified state is not a political, but a psychological one, Reddy appealed to the people to support him in his fight.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister said if the state is bifurcated, Telangana region will be more badly affected than the Seemandhra region. 

"Telangana region will be more severely affected than coastal Andhra if the state is bifurcated. The division will have an effect on education, irrigation sources, power and employment opportunities in the region," he said. 

Reddy expressed confidence that Andhra Pradesh would be in top position in the country in the next five years if the state remains united. "We will explain our stand in favour of united Andhra Pradesh to the GoM. We will clearly explain to them the disadvantages and problems that will arise after the bifurcation," he added. 

Meanwhile, the chief minister distributed ration cards to 8,604 persons, old age pensions to 845 persons, widow pensions to 1,253 persons, and houses to 800 eligible persons at Rajahmundry in East Godavari district on Saturday.

He also inaugurated IOCL Housing Colony which was provided with the infrastructural facilities to the tune of Rs 205.60 lakh and laid a foundation stone for social welfare hostels at Arts College.