CM meets Prez, oppose AP’s bifurcation

New Delhi, Feb 5 : Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy claimed that about 80 per cent of the people of Andhra Pradesh were against the bifurcation of the State.

Speaking to media persons after meeting President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan along with other Seemandhra leaders here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said that he had requested the President to use his powers to stop the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. He said that the Telangana Bill was rejected by the State Assembly and Council through an unopposed resolution. Stating that the resolution reflected the will of the people of Andhra Pradesh, he insisted that the State be kept united.

Kiran Kumar Reddy said that the division of any State should be aimed at betterment of the people. However, he said the AP’s bifurcation would cause several problems for all the regions. While Telangana would face scarcity of water and energy, the people of Seemandhra would be hit in education and medical sectors. He said that the Telagnana people would lose water meant for irrigating about 11 lakh acres of land.

“The bifurcation would deteriorate the situation in the State. We have requested the President to use his powers to see that State is united as per the Constitution,” the Chief Minister said. He expressed confidence that the President would take an appropriate action as per the Constitution. He said that the Bill was yet to reach the President of India for approval.  INN