Hyderabad, February 27: For the first time, a Congress leader from Andhra region, that too a minister, has come out openly in favour of bifurcation of the State and asserted that he would build a strong case for the separation with the Justice BN Srikrishna Committee which is setting its apparatus together to hold hearings on the contentious issue.
Panchayat Raj Minister Botsa Satyanarayana, who is from Vizianagaram district, took everyone by surprise with his comments in the Assembly lobbies on Friday at a time when his colleagues in Andhra region are clamouring for the State to remain united.
He said he would also plead with the Srikrishna Committee not to keep the State united by offering incentives to the Telagnana region in the form agreements. The Gentlemen’s Agreement made at the time of unification of Hyderabad State with the rest of Andhra had never been implemented either in letter or in spirit which has led to the resurgence of Telangana movement.
If the Srikrishna Committee suggests such agreements, they would not be of any use, Satyanarayana averred.
He not only favoured separation, but suggested that Vijayawada be made the capital of the new State. This would facilitate development of the new capital in the form of investments from outside, he said, drawing a parallel to Hyderabad which had attracted non-locals who constituted 70 per cent of the investors after it became the capital. He suggested setting up of monitoring committees on irrigation, industries, education, infrastructure and industries to ensure that the resources and infrastructure were distributed properly between the two states when bifurcation takes place.
Justifying his contention for bifurcation, he said the two states formed after separation might stand to gain.
At present there is only one chief minister for the State. After bifurcation, there would be two chief ministers though the size of the two states would be smaller. “If Goa Chief Minister goes to Delhi, he will have more influence though the State is very small,’’ he argued. If the State is divided, more MPs would get berths in the Central Cabinet. Though the State sent a maximum number of Congress MPs to Delhi, it could get only one Cabinet minister. If the State is divided more MPs might find berths, he said.
–Agencies