Sink or swim, Kiran tells GoM on division

New Delhi, Nov 18 (INN): Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday requested the Centre to reconsider its decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh to carve out Telangana.

Addressing a press conference after meeting the Group of Ministers (GoM) here, the Chief Minister reiterated that the division of State would lead to several problems which would eventually affect the entire country. He said that he told the GoM that the division would escalate the security threat for both the region.

"On several occasions, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh himself stated that naxalism was a major threat to the nation. Although we kept the naxal activity in check since 2006, it might escalate due to bifurcation," he said.

The Chief Minister said that larger States would have strong police machinery and therefore, it effectively controls the issues like Maoists violence.

However, a weak government and weak police force would help in reviving the naxalites' activities in both the regions. He said that several Central leaders of naxalities belong to Andhra Pradesh and they would take advantage of the State's division.

Kiran Kumar Reddy also feared that the division would have an impact on anti-terrorism drives. Describing Hyderabad as a targeted city, he said that the State Government has been taking lot of precautions to control terrorists' activities.

It would also be difficult to control the incidents of communal violence in a divided State. He said nearly 25,000 of police forces from Seemandhra region are deputed during the festival season in Hyderabad and this would not be possible after bifurcation.

Kiran Kumar Reddy also listed out other problems that would crop up after State's division. Stating that Telangana would be more affected due to AP's division, he said that it might not get adequate water for irrigation and other needs due to river water sharing disputes.

Similarly, Telangana will be an energy deficit State. Lakhs of employees too would face problems with regard to relocation, repatriation and retirement.

The Chief Minister said that he had requested the GoM to reconsider the decision of dividing the State and instead, give a good package for Telangana region. He said the division would have an ever-lasting and irrevocable affect on the entire State.

"As a person who is running the State and full authority I'm saying that these problems will come due to division. I've been working for the last three years as the Chief Minister and I visualised these problems," he said adding that the issue would be discussed in the State Legislative Assembly at length.

He said that it would be mandatory for the State Government to conduct a session in the month of December, irrespective of whether the Telangana Bill comes or not.