Tirupati, April 14: The Tirupati-based freedom fighter Mr A Hanumantha Rao strongly appealed to the Sri Srikrishna Committee that Andhra Pradesh should continue to be a unified and united state without any division.
In his 17-page letter addressed to the Committee yesterday, the 93-year-old freedom fighter said the state had occupied a prestigious position in the country and the setup must not be disturbed under any circumstances.
While referring to the small states’ formation, Mr Rao, who participated in the Quit India movement in August, 1942, said the people would be at a disadvantageous position if it takes place. It is highly improper and imprudent for the creation of the state merely to satisfy the selfish interests of the political leaders and reducing common people to the level of slaves and beggars, he pointed out.
The freedom fighter stated that division of the state was a retrograde and disastrous step and would do more harm than good to both regions.
The small state of Telangana will go into the hands of Maoists and Naxalites and might be controlled by the terrorists and other anti-social elements, he cautioned.
Since the small state did not have the economically and financially viable budgetary, revenues would be meagre and could not provide funds for implementation of projects and for launching of developmental schemes, he explained. The political parties raising Telangana issue and their supporters, including the student’s community could not claim exclusive rights of domicile in the region barring entry to people of the other parts of the state which was against the fundamental rights of the citizens under the Constitution of India, he said.
The word ”Andhra” and ”Telangana” were synonymous in Telugu he stated.
——–Agencies