Hyderabad: The High Court bifurcation issue has created a rift between the Telugu Desam and the BJP in both TS and AP.
Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda’s comment that the issue was not under the purview of the Centre but of the Hyderabad High Court and AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, drew flak from AP. In TS, both the BJP and TD are in the soup thanks to Mr Gowda’s comment.
While the AP government refuted Mr Gowda’s claim, TS BJP president K. Laxman blamed the Chief Ministers of both TS and AP and asked the TRS not to politicise the issue or drag the Centre into the controversy.
AP Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishnamurthy said that the Centre has to deal with the issue and reminded that Mr Naidu had written to the Central government saying that AP was not averse to a separate High Court.
“We showed a spot in Amaravati to officials who came from New Delhi for the location of High Court. The Centre has to release funds. We are not opposed to the separate High Court. The High Court is in the Central list. It is unfair to blame AP or its leaders for the status quo,” he added.
Meanwhile, a senior BJP leader said: “The Law minister messed up the issue and gave the TRS government political advantage. Gowda saying that HC and Naidu have to sort out the issue is unbelievable.”
However, Dr Laxman feels that CMs of both TS and AP have to resolve the issue and cannot drag the Centre into the controversy.
“KCR went to Amravati and Naidu attended the Chandi Yagam at KCR’s farmhouse. Why didn’t they talk HC bifurcation? Both states are enacting a drama to cover up their own follies. Centre cannot be blamed for the delay,” he said.
Dr Laxman added that the Centre allocated Rs 100 crore for construction of a new High Court building for AP. “It’s not correct for the TRS to whip up sentiment and politicise every issue. BJP backs advocates’ demands. The Governor should intervene and take action,” he said.
