Hyderabad: Congress leader Lagadapati Rajagopal, who recently resigned as MP over the decision to split Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday vowed to continue the agitation for the unified state until Centre withdraws its decision on proposed creation of Telangana. "The Congress decided to bifurcate the state even though 89 per cent people are supporting the unified state. The leaders in Delhi are not aware of it. Therefore, the agitation has to be continued until the Centre decides not to split the state," he said.
He said the creation of Telangana will lead to several new issues like water disputes and will add to the woes of farmers. Rajagopal, however, urged the Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers Association (APNGOs) to withdraw their proposed indefinite strike against division of state, beginning from August 12. The APNGOs Association president P Ashok Babu has urged the Congress Working Committee to reconsider its decision on the formation of Telangana.
"The CWC should honour the feelings and sentiments of majority of public representatives, including chief minister, union and state ministers, MPs, MLAs and MLCs, who are against the bifurcation...The decision has been made for political gains at the cost of people," he said. In Kakinada, chairman of Andhra Pradesh Micro and Small Enterprises Development Corporation (MSEDC) BV Ramarao has appealed to Centre to dissolve Andhra Pradesh assembly and impose President's rule, alleging the administration has came to a standstill due to ongoing protest.
He threatened to undertake fast-unto-death from August 15 at Kakinada in support of United Andhra Pradesh. Kadapa unit president of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Linga Reddy said "the TDP leadership may not go back from its pro-Telangana stand, but the leaders of Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra will sail with people. Parties should function according to the will of people".
He accused Congress party of the "discriminatory" decision saying the ruling party would be voted out in the next elections. Meanwhile, the chairman of Non-political JAC V Balamohan Das underlined the need for intensifying the agitation in a peaceful manner.
Das told reporters in Vishakhapatnam that different JACs and units participating in Samaikhyandra movement should join hands and intensify the stir. Meanwhile, a number of public representatives from Kadapa and leaders of various sections held an 8-hour meeting here to chalk out the future course of action for opposing the creation of Telangana.
The meeting was attended by Congress MLAs Adinarayana Reddy, G.Veera Siva Reddy, Minorities Affairs Minister Ahmadulla, TDP MLA and district president Linga Reddy, YSR Congress Party MLA Srikanth Reddy, besides government employees, NGOs and others. State Minority Welfare Minister Ahmadulla said he was willing to resign for the cause of united Andhra Pradesh.
The Joint Action Committee announced on the occasion that they will besiege government offices on August 12 and block movement of trains on August 18 at various places in the district. The JAC has also convened a meeting of Sarpanchas on August 13. Meanwhile, continuing their protests, opponents of separate state participated in rallies, held rasta rokos at various places, besides holding relay hunger strikes. Various NGOs and teachers held pickets outside houses of minister Ramchandraiah and Ahamadulla.
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