Dr. JP wants President to get AP Bill amended

Hyderabad, Jan 31 : Lok Satta Party national President and Member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan has urged President Pranab Mukherjee to ensure that the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill addresses the negative consequences of division of the State, and the legitimate concerns of residual Andhra Pradesh before recommending its introduction in Parliament.

In a letter addressed to the President on January 30, Dr. JP said that “if Parliament now acts precipitately without addressing the legitimate concerns of the regions of Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra, it will lead to severe disaffection, tensions and disharmony that will weaken the sense of unity among the people of India.”

Dr. JP said the rejection of the Bill by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly reflected the serious misgivings of a majority of the people of the State. Pointing out that there is a surcharged atmosphere prevailing in all the three regions of the State, Dr. JP said that “when primordial loyalties and atavistic fears are aroused, we have a crisis situation. It is vital that prolonged strife is avoided in the interests of the State and the country.”

Dr. JP told the President that as the custodian of the Constitution and federalism along with the Supreme Court, he should take all steps necessary for a comprehensive and acceptable resolution of the Andhra Pradesh crisis, and for future peace, harmony and prosperity of all the three regions of Andhra Pradesh.

In his three-page letter, Dr, JP said that “while the desire of the people of Telangana region to have a separate State is manifestly evident, the procedure and process adopted for formation of the State suffer from grave defects.” INN