Andhra split over Telangana, CM opposes Congress plan - Hindustan Times

As the Congress and UPA government appear to be veering towards the formation of a separate Telangana state, some ministers and MPs from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh opposing any division of Andhra Pradesh. Union ministers MM Pallam Raju, KS Rao, Chiranjeevi and D Purandeshwari (all hailing from coastal Andhra) and MPs Bapiraju and Anantarami Reddy met Singh in a delegation and favoured maintaining a united Andhra Pradesh. Sources said the delegation conveyed to the Prime Minister that creation of a Telangana would not be in the interest of the state and the country. Two more Andhra MLAs quit over Telangana on Friday, there were high-level discussions between the Congress leadership and the state Congress leadership on the demand for creation of Telangana. AICC general secretary incharge of Andhra Pradesh Digivijaya Singh and his predecessor Ghulam Nabi Azad held separate discussions with chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana and Deputy chief minister Damodar Rajanarasimha. The two leaders are understood to have conveyed to the state leadership that the party has made up its mind on creation of Telangana and it was only a matter of time before it is announced. The discussions were followed by deliberations held in the Core Group meeting held at the residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.  Congress president Sonia Gandhi chaired the meeting which was also attended by senior Cabinet ministers AK Antony, P Chidambaram and Sushil Kumar Shinde. Sources said the party and the UPA government was in favour of a division of the state, which could be decided after the completion of the local bodies elections this month end. The decision could be announced in the first week of August and may be formalised at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) after which the issue could go to Parliament for passage of a bill for the purpose. Bapiraju said the delegation told the Prime Minister that formation of Telangana will create problems in many states including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh where there are demands for separate statehood. He said the PM gave a patient hearing to the leaders. Meanwhile, speaking in Vijayawada on Saturday, Congress MP Lagadapati Rajagopal, who is opposed to Telangana, advised his party's Lok Sabha members from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema not to support any move in Parliament for creation of a separate state by dividing Andhra Pradesh. Talking to reporters here, the MP from Vijayawada in coastal Andhra said he has urged Congress Parliamentarians from the non-Telangana regions to oppose any Bill for the formation of a new State if it is brought in Lok Sabha. Rajagopal advised the Congress MLAs from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema to do the same if a similar Bill is introduced in the Assembly. On resignation by some MLAs in support of united Andhra Pradesh, he said this would not serve any purpose and only reduce the strength of legislators who are opposing creation of Telangana. Instead of resigning, these MLAs should lead and strengthen the movement against bifurcation of the state, the Congress MP said. He earlier visited the site of a protest organised by united Andhra Pradesh supporters. Rajagopal asked students and Andhra Pradesh employees, who are opposing statehood to Telangana, to persuade MPs and legislatures to announce their open support for unified Andhra Pradesh. Telangana row: a background The seed for a separate Telangana was not sowed in the recent past. The history of this geographical struggle goes way back to the times of independance, infact it precedes that. The issue is simple. In 1953, a commission was setup and the state boundaries were reorganized. At that time the present day Andra Pradesh was split into two broad parts namely Seemandra (Andra) and Telangana. The top priority of the commission was to merge these two into one 'united Andra Pradesh'. The commission, even while stating that the Telangana population was against the merger to form a larger unit, went ahead and did it. So was born the present day Andra Pradesh.  Even though both the parts spoke the same language, their accent, customs and festivals varied. Instead of joining hands over their commonality they chose to go separate ways citing their diversity. As Andra region comprised of 9 coastal districts, it rose in power and prosperity, while Telangana struggled.  The Telengana fight started as a peasants movement to reverse the merger and slowly gained momentum which often resulted in violence in various parts of Andra pradesh at various points of time. Accodring to some reports in just over the past three years 300 youths were killed, some reports say 1000. Whatever the figure may be, lives are at stake when it comes to Telangana issue.  Throughout political history parties have fanned the struggle to gain political mileage.  At present, there is a huge tug of war going on between pro-Telangana and anti-Telangana parties. While the regional parties are divided in their opinions regarding a separate state, national parties are ready to join hands with anyone who would gain them the much needed Lok Sabha seats. The main players are Telangana Rashtra Samiti(TRS), which wants a separate Telangana. Their political affinity remains a mystery. While in 2009 they announced a coalition with Telugu Desam Party and forming a third front, suddenly they joined NDA after the elections. The present Congress CM Kiran Reddy has been reiterating his anti-telangana stance in recent rallies. The Congress feels they would lose votes if election takes place in a divided Andra but still the party top brass is undecided over the issue.YSR congress headed by Jaganmohan Reddy, a man of many controversies, is yet to take a clear stand on the issue. Several party MLAs are agitated over the dilly-dallying of the issue by party top floor. BJP, meanwhile, has been giving out press releases in favour of a separate state. Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (MIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi finally broke his silence on the contentious Telangana issue, declaring the party was not in favour of a separate state. CPM had always shown reluctance over a separate state. Telugu Desam Party which is prepared to do anything to gain its lost political balance is supporting the separate state. To put an end to the confusion, the Congress-led UPA government is likely to announce a decision on Telangana before the Monsoon Session of Parliament. (With inputs from PTI) via Top Stories - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEzLMYh6O1CuZL5K3J49l3_qfKUmg&url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Andhra-split-over-Telangana-CM-opposes-Congress-plan/Article1-1099224.aspx

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