Congress acting like a regional party: Lagadapati

Hyderabad: Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal strongly criticised his own Congress party and the Centre accusing it acting like a regional party in the matter of bifurcation of the State. He said the division decision was a blunder in the 125-year history of the Congress party.

Participating in a Meet the Press programme organized by the Andhra Pradesh Journalists Forum, Rajagopal, who was a staunch supporter of united Andhra Pradesh, said the Congress was acting like other parties on the bifurcation and trying to divide the State for its political gains.

The Congress has taken an unexpected decision on the bifurcation, he said and alleged that the Congress took the decision conspiring with a separatist party (TRS) on one hand and it's adopted son (Jagan) on the other.

'My mind has become blank on hearing the decision of the Congress high command in favour of the bifurcation,' he said and questioned as to whether there was any national policy for the bifurcation of the State.

He informed that they have requested the Congress high command not to bifurcate the State before the general elections. Except the Congress, all the political parties have given letters in favour of the division of the State before 2009 elections.

Finally, the demand for united Andhra Pradesh would win. The entire country was watching the process of bifurcation of the State. Justice Sri Krishna Committee had also recommended that the State could be bifurcated only with the acceptance of people of all regions.

People of the entire State had emotional attachment with Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, he added.

Rajagopal opined that Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy was strongly advocating united Andhra Pradesh and making his every effort to keep the State united.

Reacting to rumours on the possibility of removal of Kiran Kumar Reddy from Chief Minister post, he felt that it was impossible for anybody to change the Chief Minister.

Directly targeting the Congress high command, the MP alleged that the Congress party was deceiving the Telugu people, who elected it to power twice.

Why Telangana leaders, who want Bhadrachalam to be a part of new Telangana State, were not demanding for Visakhapatnam, Kadapa, Kurnool and Anantapur, he questioned.

Rajagopal expected the situation might change after completion of the elections in five States. The survival of the Congress government would be a question mark. Several parties would distance from the Congress after the completion of elections in five States.

He opined that the people were believing that the Congress was the first accused in the bifurcation issue, and after it, the TDP and YCP were also responsible. He expressed confidence that Telangana Bill would not be tabled in Parliament during the winter session.