Even as Andhra Pradesh legislature was vertically divided on whether it should allow a debate on the draft Bill dividing the State, ardent supporters of separate Telangana state were busy in paying a unique tribute to Congress president Sonia Gandhi for her historic contribution in making a new State of Telangana a near reality.
Finishing touches were being given to the first model of a deity-like image of Sonia Gandhi to be installed in a temple devoted to her in Telangana. Ironically, the “idol” of Sonia Gandhi was being made on the very soil of Andhra which has become a battle ground against Telangana state. Former Minister and an ardent Sonia follower P Shankar Rao on Wednesday visited Bommaluru village of Krishna district where artistes were at work to create a golden colour idol of Sonia in the avatar of “Telangana Talli”, an imaginary idol of Telangana region countering the “Telugu Talli”, a deity of Andhra Pradesh.
“Sonia Gandhi is like a Goddess for the people of Telangana. It is because of her that our decades-old dream of having our own State is becoming a reality,” P Shankar Rao said, explaining why he planned a temple for Sonia. Shankar Rao has already laid the foundation stone for “Sonia temple” on a part of his agriculture land in Nandigam village of Kottur mandal of his Assembly constituency, Shadnagar.
Meanwhile, the much-awaited debate on draft State re-organisation Bill began in State Assembly on Wednesday amid noisy protest by the YSR Congress party members from Seemandhra region. As Minister for cultural affairs Vatti Vasantha Kumar started the debate on the Bill, but Seemandhra members rushed to the podium of the Speaker shouting slogans.
Despite the continuing bedlam, the Minister spoke for two minutes but what he said was hardly audible. The Minister opposed the bifurcation of the State terming the entire process undemocratic and unconstitutional. As the pandemonium continued, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day. On Wednesday, it was the fifth consecutive day when the House was rocked by protests of Seemandhra MlAs.
Earlier, State Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy speaking in the House urged the members to extend their cooperation in smooth conduct of the House. While Seemandhra MlAs of TDP responded positively and resumed their seats, the YSR Congress party members remained near the Speaker’s podium. The YSRCP leadership too opposed the State re-organisation Bill outside the House.
While party’s floor leader in the State Assembly Vijayalakshmi addressed a letter to the Speaker demanding a voting on the draft bill. She told the Speaker that as he had introduced in the bill in the House, he should use special powers to pass a resolution seeking a voting on the bill, she said. Another MlA of the party Karunakar Reddy alleged that all the traitors of Andhra Pradesh and Telugu people had come together in the State Assembly. He alleged that the Congress and Telugu Desam party had joined hands to pave the way for bifurcation of the State.
YSRCP president Jaganmohan Reddy, presently on a tour of Rayalaseema opposing the bifurcation told series of public meetings that allowing a debate on the bill in the legislature will be like accepting the bifurcation of the State. During his tour of Chittoor district Jaganmohan Reddy demanded that the both the Houses of legislature should pass a resolution in support of keeping the State united.
“We should win 30 lok Sabha seats to choose a Prime Minister who will keep Andhra Pradesh united,” he urged the people of Seemandhra region. In its counter attack Telugu Desam party questioned Jaganmohan Reddy why he was not daring to visit Telangana state and was confining himself to Rayalaseema region. TDP leader Gali Muddukrishnamma Naidu ridiculed Jagan saying his party was now demanding the resolution but it was he who had suggested center to invoke article 3 of the constitution to divide the State.
But, Andhra Pradesh Non-Gzetted Officers Association president Ashok Babu who was in the forefront of campaign against Telangana state said that the Assembly should debate the bill and the members should freely express their views. At the same time he strongly opposed the bifurcation of the State and warned that the Government employees will lay a siege of the State Assembly after Sankranti festival next week. In another development a round table conference of Telangana MlAs was held in Hyderabad. It was attended by Ministers as well as the leaders of Telangana Joint Action Committee to discuss the strategy over the debate on Telangana Bill.