Andhra Pradesh should not be divided: YSRCP

New Delhi, Nov 13 (INN): The YSR Congress Party on Wednesday reiterated that it was against the division of Andhra Pradesh under any circumstances.

Speaking to media persons after meeting the Group of Ministers (GoM), YSRCP representatives Dr MV Mysoora Reddy and Gattu Ramachandra Rao said that they handed over an eight-page letter to the GoM opposing every step taken towards the bifurcation of the State. "Our Party demands with clarity and conviction that the State should be united, and should not be divided under any circumstances," Mysoora Reddy said.

"We cannot endorse the decision taken by the union cabinet on October 3, 2013 to split the State as it is not acceptable to us. Over 75 per cent of the State population is opposing the division tooth and nail and is protesting for the past three-and-a-half months in an unprecedented way as we the people of the state firmly believe that the division would adversely affect the future generations for hundreds of years to come.

Yet, neither the Centre nor the ruling Congress Party is in a position to heed and honour the feelings of the people or to the parties that have been voicing the concern of the people," YSRCP President Jagan Mohan Reddy said in the representation submitted to the GoM.

"The motive behind the setting up of the GoM, certainly, is not to address the democratic protests of the region and to review the Centre's decision. It is obvious that the Centre wants to go ahead with the division even if it causes immense damage to both the regions," Jagan said.

The YSRCP equated the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to the infamous Partition of Bengal in 1905 by Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of India and alleged that the AICC was adopting the same British ideology of Divide and Rule. It alleged that the bifurcation was not transparent or democratic.

"Though the Centre has the power to divide the State, can it take decisions without any concrete basis and rationality? The Centre does not recognize the fact that Andhra Pradesh state was formed on recommendations of the State Reorganization commission (SRC) which regrouped the states on linguistic basis in 1955.

After 66 years of independence and 63 years of constitution in force, and 57 years of unification of Andhra Pradesh, can the Centre create a wedge between regions and decide to divide the state with political motives for gaining votes and seats? Is it justified?" asked the YSRCP.

The YSRCP also questioned the Centre's decision on bifurcating the State on October 3, 2013 without the consent of the State Assembly. "Public opinion and the State Assembly are the genuine basis for any decision. In that case without taking the Assembly into confidence, why were things taken so far, by setting up of GoM which in turn is seeking reports from concerned department secretaries and parties?" it asked.