Making it clear that he was totally opposed to bifurcation of the State, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said that it was unfortunate that he happened to be the Chief Minister at the time of state separation.
Participating in the discussion on the A P Reorganisation Bill 2013 (T Bill), Kiran Reddy said that the Congress party took the decision on Telangana formation only after all the parties have decided in favour of Telangana State. Still, he was opposing the decision taken by his party, he said. Kiran Reddy said that he was facing a crisis situation, whether to opt for Samaikya state or the Congress party.
The Chief Minister said that the people had supported ‘Vishalandhra’ then as they felt the justice would be done to the farmers, down-trodden and weaker sections.
Kiran Reddy’s speech was obstructed by the TRS and BJP member Dr Nagam janardhan Reddy frequently, leading to arguments and counter-arguments. Sharply reacting to the opposition remarks, the Chief Minister said that there was need for him to speak extensively on the T Bill. He said that he never changed his word during his lifetime. They could refer to any paper, he said angrily. He also said that the members should know the history. He said there was no need for him to learn lessons from the BJP, and added that he never changed his word, while Dr Nagam changed his stand frequently.
Tracing history, Kiran Reddy said that at the 1908 Allahabad Congress conclave, Telugu people from Srikakulam to Mysore requested for Andhra state formation. A resolution was passed in favour of Linguistic states at the Nagpur Congress meet in 1920. Similar resolutions were made at 1928 Lucknow meet and 1937 meet of the Congress. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the first Linguistic State in 1953. He said that it was Seemandhra poets who wrote poems to inspire the people of Telangana in their armed struggle.
REPEATED OBSTRUCTIONS
The Chief Minister’s speech was repeatedly obstructed by the TRS and members from Telangana. TRS members rushed to the podium at one time. The Speaker N Manohar said it was not proper for the members to obstruct the speech of the Chief Minister.
Minister from Telangana, Jana Reddy asked in what capacity Kiran Reddy was opposing the T Bill, whether as a leader of the House or as an individual. If he was opposing as leader of the House, they would not be party to it.
Minister Ramnarayan Reddy, intervening, said that it was not proper to obstruct the Chief Minister’s speech. He said that many members from both the regions have spoken on the Bill, and added: ‘let us hear what the C M would say’.
The Chief Minister requested the members to hear him with patience so that they could understand why he was opposing the Congress party decision. He said that the leaders of Telangana had opted for united State then. Not only that, they also insisted that Hyderabad be made as its Capital. He asserted that Telangana was not merged with Andhra with any force, as was now being claimed by some T leaders. He said that many agitations took place for Linguistic States. (NSS)