Truth with Substance
interview
By Soumitra Bose
In an exclusive interview with JUST IN PRINT, firebrand, self-assured, fully confident, (for good cause) fighter-sounding, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy clearly says that he will always support United Andhra (Pradesh) for the minutest, overall, balanced conceivable-inconceivable all round growth/s of the state without any bias, partisan approach of any kind.
Q: Why are You opposing Telengana, supporting United Andhra Pradesh ?
answer:-Before I answer that, I say that I will stay on as the chief minister and fight for a united Andhra. I have already asked the Congress high command to reconsider its decision on the creation of Telangana. Mypost is not important. (I’m fully aware, all the time vociferously-n-succinctly conscious) It is not permanent. But, the state is permanent. We must keep that in mind before taking a very important decision like bifurcation of a big state like Andhra Pradesh. …I rule out the possibility of the creation of new state before the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections early, next year. …I have always been consistent (in my stand/s) and am still (earnestly) trying to convince the party high command and the Centre not to take the final decision in a hurry. I have told the high command that a united Andhra Pradesh will help all of us (in every possible way, whether overtly or covertly). Entire state including Telangana then will be stronger in every sphere of development. In view of this and other factors, I say, such decisions (of creation of Telengana, division of AP) can't be taken in a hurry. I have been trying to convince Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi that the progress of the state depends on the unity of the state.
Q. What will be the fate of Hyderabad now?
Nowhere in India, when a big state was divided, had the state capital gone to a smaller state. Seemandhra is much bigger than Telangana. Seemandhra people's future is linked to Hyderabad. Hyderabad has most educational institutions, industries, IT companies, medical facilities, airport and other major infrastructure. How can the people lose all that? … Basic issues like electricity, water sharing etc have to be decided amicably before the division of the state. Telangana has a major power problem and it is not going to be easy for the new state to handle issues like power. …The Congress high command has taken a decision. Now the Centre should handle it. It can't take a decision in a hurry. We are all still trying our best to convince the Centre against bifurcation. Not a single concern raised by us has been addressed. They should address these issues, before going ahead with the decision of creating a new state. …I’ll resign and will debate the issue in the state assembly. Parliament will have to listen to the views of the state Assembly and it is a Constitutional right of the state.
Q:What about so many mega projects pending in the state? What will be their fate?
Lot of projects are in the pipeline. We have water sharing disputes with neighbouring states. They are before the Supreme Court and Tribunals. A new state can't be carved out without sorting out basic issues like these.