Hyderabad, Feb 27 (INN): Union Minister Jairam Ramesh on Thursday appealed for reconciliation and cooperation among the Telangana and Seemandhra for the speedy and overall development of both the State.
Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan here, Jairam said that the days of agitation were over and this was the time for administration. He listed out the provisions in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill that addresses the Seemandhra concerns.
He hoped that the Day of Appointment of Telangana would be announced by next week which would be followed by appointment of separate Chief Ministers, Chief Secretaries and DGPs for both the States. He spoke at length about the advantages of bifurcation for both the States, especially Seemandhra. He said that assurances given by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on the floor of Rajya Sabha would be implemented.
Jairam Ramesh also accused the BJP of trying to stop the Telangana Bill in Rajya Sabha. Further, he said that Special Category State status was not sought by the BJP, but the Congress MPs from Seemandhra region. He said that the Prime Minister himself announced a six-point package for the Seemandhra State.
He said that the entire process of bifurcation would be completed in three months.
When asked about acting Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy's decision to approach the Supreme Court against the Telangana Bill, he said that the Bill was not illegal and it was drafted and passed based under Articles 371 (D) on the judgments passed by Supreme Court on different occasions.
He also dismissed the reports of him planning to contest the next Lok Sabha polls from Seemandhra region.
Earlier, when a Telangana JAC delegation met Jairam Ramesh, he requested them to join the Seemandhra counterparts and come out with a “Joint-Joint Action Committee” with representatives of both sides.
PCC President Botsa Satyanarayana and AICC SC Department chairman K Raju were also present. (INN)
