The Bharatiya Jata Party (BJP) is set to launch the Jai Andhra movement once again, if the party state unit chief, G Kishan Reddy’ statement is to be believed.
The party leaders from the coastal districts have been fighting for separate state right from the beginning. The BJP leaders have already held several rounds of meetings in the coastal districts for separate states. However, these meetings were spoiled by the integrationists.
In spite of this, the BJP wants to go ahead with its Jai Andhra movement. The fresh note of Jai Andhra movement assumed significance with the party state president and an advocate of separate Telangana, Kishan Reddy, announcing that the party would start the Jai Andhra movement.
However, the BJP rank and file is not ready to launch this agitation due to the prevailing situation here and not because of the party’s policy. “The situation is different here. People are now busy with discussing issues like asset values of politicians, health of Sonia Gandhi and the CBI raids on Y S Jaganmohan Reddy. If we go to people now with slogans like separate Telangana and separate Andhra, it would not draw the attention of the people,” said the BJP state spokesman, U Srinivasa Raju.
He said that the Telangana movement could not win the hearts of people because of the hate concept it had. The movement always advocated anti-Andhra ideology which did not attract the people of Andhra or did not help the Telangana people to win others. He further said that there were many people who wanted division of the state but they remained silent just because they were not convinced of the arguments of the pro-Telangana leaders.
“We are planning to go to the people with a positive note. We would propose to the people the ways and means to develop the region after bifurcation. There are possibilities of developing the region if it becomes a separate State,” asserted Srinivasa Raju, while speaking to this correspondent.
He further said that Srikakulam and Prakasam districts were most backward than the Mahaboobnagar district and it all happened because of the threats from the Telangana leaders right from the formation of Andhra Pradesh state. “It is high time that we get our due share in development and this is what we are planning to take to the people,” he said.
Srinivasa Raju further said that the Telangana movement is based on hate Andhra, which is why it did not become a reality. On the contrary, the Jai Andhra movement would be on “love Andhra” concept that would make people realise what they have lost in the last 60 years because of Telangana.
“If separate Andhra is formed, we can get Pulichintala and Polavaram projects that would solve the problems of the region. Besides, we also have the Krishna-Godavari gas basin that has the potential to turn this area into a heaven,” Srinivasa Raju said.
He further said that Gujarath had recorded greatest development after it was separated from Mumbai State. Andhra too would get the same advantage if divided and the BJP would work on these lines, he added. “Andhra has three international airports at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupthi. It can have more airports that can tag the region with the world. It also has the potential to develop more airports and sea ports. There is no need to fear about the development of the State if divided,” he added.
–Agencies–