Vundavalli objects to AP’s changed stance on bifurcation

Hyderabad: Former Congress MP Vundavalli Aruna Kumar on Wednesday raised objection over Andhra Pradesh government’s recent plea asking Supreme Court not to take up hearing on petitions filed on bifurcation of erstwhile AP, as the government is not against the bifurcation.

Speaking to media persons in Rajamahendravaram, the former MP pointed out that when Supreme Court heard petitions on reorganisation of AP on November 28, AP government’s senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi submitted to the apex court that Andhra Pradesh is not against bifurcation of the state.

“This stand will open a Pandora’s Box when the issue is taken up for hearing once again, as eight years have passed since the erstwhile AP has been divided,” Vundavalli pointed out. He asked whether Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is aware of what AP’s counsel has submitted in the apex court.

The former MP recalled the day when AP Reorganisation Bill had been passed in Lok Sabha after sending out of the House a majority of MPs from AP, who had been opposing the bifurcation of state. Doors of the house had been shut, mikes of members disconnected and live telecast of the session stopped. Vundavalli asked whether the present CM, who had then been an MP, had forgotten all these developments.

The ex-MP quoted statements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, union home minister Amit Shah and others in Parliament condemning the way the united Andhra Pradesh had been bifurcated flouting all constitutional provisions and established norms. Given the top BJP leaders’ stand, Vundavalli questioned state government’s latest stance before Supreme Court, when the court could provide a solution to the issue.

He pointed out that the apex court, during the hearing on November 28, expressed wonder why the centre had not filed its counter on the issue for so long. Before posting the next hearing to February 22, 2023, the Supreme Court had also directed the centre to file its counter.

Given the circumstances, the former MP asked the state government as to why it has changed its stand on the issue, when AP has faced considerable injustice, with no proper release of funds for Polavaram, no granting of special category status to state, no extension of funds for backward districts of Rayalaseema and north Andhra regions and no proper industries and jobs in residuary Andhra Pradesh.