Jagan blames Sonia for 'arbitrary division'

Hyderabad, Oct 5 (INN): Expressing deep anguish over the arbitrary bifurcation of the State, YSR Congress Party Chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has demanded the Congress President Sonia Gandhi to revoke the decision immediately.

'Sonia Gandhi is responsible for the crisis in the State and she has been playing with the sentiments of the people with the singular motive of seeing to it that her son Rahul Gandhi is made Prime Minister,' he told media at the Lotus Pond camp office where he began his indefinite fast this morning demanding the Centre to review its decision of bifurcating the State.

He appealed to Sonia Gandhi to reconsider the decision, as creating a new state would badly affect the future generations of one region. The division is arbitrary in nature and does not address all issues that are bound to crop up after the bifurcation.

'The motive of the division could be political but Delhi cannot play with the sentiments of the people of one region. I once again appeal to the Centre to roll back its decision on division,' he said adding that BJP should also take a call on the issue and stand up for a united state.

Wondering why TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu is undertaking deeksha, he said, 'There is no valid reason for such double standards as he has already given consent for creation of Telangana state.

If he is sincere he should be categorical about his support for a united state and send a letter to that effect which supersedes his earlier letter.'

Water sharing will be a major issue which will have far reaching consequences, he said, Krishna waters flow into our State only after the needs of Maharashtra and Karnataka are fulfilled.

Unless Almatti and Narayanpur are filled water does not drop into our State. If another State is created in between, where Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar will get water from, he asked.

'How can the Group of Ministers solve such major issues in a short period of six weeks? Water sharing disputes are acute between states despite Tribunals. Karnataka and Tamil Naidu are still fighting it out on sharing of Cauvery waters.

Krishna water sharing will have volatility if a new state comes in between and farmers along the Krishna ayacut will be on a warpath.

'When an Ordinance can be taken back, why a Cabinet Note cannot be revoked? This is the first time in the country that a State is being divided without passing a resolution in the State assembly,' he said and demanded the Centre and Congress leadership to withdraw the decision on division in the larger interest of the people.