Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh’s visit to Hyderabad has set the cat among the pigeons and heightened the political passions as he dropped more than clear hints that Andhra Pradesh was heading towards bifurcation, bringing decades old issue of Telangana to a climax.
Digvijay Singh, who left for Bengaluru on Tuesday morning, said that he had asked for the road map from Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha and State Congress president Botsa Satyanarayana. “Once I get this road map I will submit my report to the party high command,” said Digvijay Singh, who heard the versions of both the supporters and opponents of separate Telagnana state.
Digvijay Singh told the State Congress leaders in clear terms that a decision either way was expected in a fortnight and asked them to abide by the decision of the high command. He said that bifurcation or united state were the only two options before. “A decision in the best interest of thee nation and the State and welfare of the people will be taken,” he said.
In another indication that the Congress high command was mulling the idea of dividing Andhra Pradesh in to two equal parts by offering Rayala-Telangana (Telangana region plus two districts of Rayalaseema) came when Digvijay Singh asked Telangana Joint Action Committee convener Prof Kodanda Ram whether he has any objection to this proposal.
Kodanda Ram along with other leaders of TJAC had met Digvijay Singh on Monday night to urge him for any early solution to Telangana issue. Significantly Singh also met State Governor ESl Narasimha in the night.
According to the sources, AICC general secretary wanted the road map covering the varied aspects like administrative action plan and the ways to deal with the law and order and political situation in case of decision to divide the State or otherwise.
Digvijay Singh told a Press conference that the time for a final decision had come. “Wider consultations have been held on Telangana issue with political parties and elected representatives,” he said adding that a final decision will be taken soon.
While Telangana leaders of Congress party were elated over the positive signals from Digvijay Singh, their Andhra and Rayalaseema counter parts were left worried and anxious and they were now in a huddle to finalise their counter strategy.
One Minister from Rayalaseema Shailajanath said that the issue was still on the cross roads and people of Andhra and Rayalaseema were against dividing the State. “The time has come for all the people to speak up in favour of united Andhra Pradesh rising above political affiliations,” he said. He hoped that important Congress leaders from Andhra including Minister Kavuri Sambasiva Rao and MP lagadapati Rajagopal will also raise their voice for unified Andhra Pradesh.
The anger against the proposed division of the State appeared to be spilling to the streets. Hundreds of students took out a rally in Visakhapatanam condemning the statements of Digvijay Singh regarding roadmap. United Andhra Pradesh Students JAC warned serious consequences if the State was divided.
A voice of dissent was raised by Telangana Congress leaders against the proposal for merging two Rayalaseema districts with Telangana state. Senior Minister K Jana Reddy told media on Tuesday that the division should be on the regional lines between Andhra and Rayalaseema. “But the Telugu people should remain united emotionally,” he said.
Jana Reddy urged the Centre to take a decision before situation slips out of control affecting the development of the region.
The BJP has also come out against the proposal of Rayala-Telangana. “Who has demanded for Rayala-TelanganaIJ These are all balloons the Congress party is releasing in the air,” said senior party leader M Venkaiah Naidu in Tirupati, where the State executive of the party was meeting. Naidu said that nobody was ready to believe that the Congress party was going to give Telangana state.