The demand for separate Andhra Pradesh by bifurcating the state, is gaining momentum with Andhra Joint Action Committee (AJAC), led by former Home Minister and Congress leader Vasantha Nageswara Rao organising a public meeting at Nandigama on September 14 at Nandigama. Releasing a wall poster in connection with the meeting at a press conference here today, he said the agitation for separate Andhra Pradesh state, comprising Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra Pradesh regions, would be intensified. He asked leaders of national parties, including the ruling Congress, Opposition BJP. The Left parties and TDP, who are supporting separate Telangana state, why they were not demanding creation of separate Andhra state. He recalled that a violent agitation for the formation of separate Andhra state were carried out in the past, in which dozens of persons had sacrificed their lives. The agitation was withdrawn with the assurance of implementing a six point formula by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. ‘People of Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema regions support bifurcation of the state for the creation of separate Andhra state,’ he opined.
Mr Nageswra Rao, who played an active role in 1972 separate Andhra state struggle, took strong except to the remarks made by Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde that smaller state were becoming hubs of Maoist activities.
The Maoists activities were in Telangana region only and the Andhra region had never given shelter to any Maoist leader, he claimed. UNI