As he started his indefinite fast against the “arbitrariness of the Centre in dividing Andhra Pradesh”, YSR Congress president Jaganmohan Reddy on Saturday hit out at Congress president Sonia Gandhi, though without naming her, blaming her for the State’s bifurcation. He also said his party would challenge the Union Cabinet’s decision in the Supreme Court which was taken without a resolution in the State Assembly.
“Someone wanted their son to become PM and divided the State,” Jagan told a TV channel, referring to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and her son Rahul Gandhi. Fiery protests, in the meantime, continued to rage through Seema-Andhra region and some places witnessed sporadic violence on the second day of the 72-hour strike in protest against the bifurcation. Andhra Pradesh, as well as other neighbouring States are bracing for a massive power blackout as the employees’ strike has resulted in several power generation plants tripping in Seema-Andhra since Friday night.
In Delhi, sources said Union Minister Pallam Raju, who announced his resignation over the division of Andhra Pradesh, met Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who just like the Prime Minister, advised him “not to act in haste.” Around half-a-dozen other Central Ministers and several Congress MPs from Andhra Pradesh have already resigned in protest.
Flanked by several senior leaders of his party and family members, Jagan sat on the indefinite fast at his lotus Pond residence in Jubilee Hills area at 11.30 am. However, his fast came under attack from Telangana Congress leaders who urged the police not to permit the fast. They also advised Jagan to take his fast to his hometown Kadapa.
Noting that there were “legal problems” involved in the State’s division, Jagan wondered how the Centre could find solutions in six weeks. “We will challenge the Centre’s decision (to divide AP) in the Supreme Court,” Jagan said. “We are opposing the unilateral manner in which the Centre is functioning. How can it go ahead with the bifurcation process without a resolution in the State AssemblyIJ” Jagan asked adding, “We have never heard of an instance of State bifurcation without a resolution in the Assembly.”
This is second time that Jagan has gone on a fast against the formation of Telangana demanding equal justice to all the regions. He had gone on fast in September inside the Chanchalguda jail where he was lodged as an accused in the disproportionate assets case but it ended six days later when he was shifted to hospital in view of his worsening health.
The indefinite fast was part of the one-upmanship between Jagan and his bête noire Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu as both their parties were eyeing a dominant role in Seema-Andhra region post the division of the State. Interestingly, Naidu has also announced his plans for an indefinite fast in New Delhi from Monday to mobilise support at the national level from other parties to stall the division process. Both Naidu and Jagan are being seen as trying to emerge as the champion of an united Andhra Pradesh.
On the Boil