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Rayalaseema leaders demand capital of Rayala Andhra
Congress leaders from Rayalaseema want due share in river waters and capital of 'Rayala Andhra' in their region.
Congress leaders from Rayalaseema want due share in river waters and capital of 'Rayala Andhra' in their region.
The ministers and state legislators from the region met in Hyderabad on Wednesday and resolved that they will be part of 'Rayala Andhra' only if their region is given due share in Krishna river waters and the capital is built in their region.
The Congress party on Tuesday decided to carve Telangana state out of the present day Andhra Pradesh. The residuary state has not yet been named but Rayalaseema leaders are calling it 'Rayala Andhra' as it will comprise Rayalaseema and Andhra regions.
Speaking on behalf of the leaders from Rayalaseema, minister for minor irrigation TG Venkatesh said if their conditions were not accepted, they along with other parties would be forced to launch an agitation for a separate state of 'Greater Rayalaseema'.
Venkatesh said they want Andhra Pradesh to remain united.
"We are discussing how to defeat the bill in parliament. We may also take legal action to stop state's division," he said.
The minister, however, said if parliament approves Telangana bill, Rayalaseema would join 'Rayala Andhra' - but only if their conditions were met. He said under the package announced by the Congress, Telangana was given Hyderabad while Polavaram project in Andhra was declared a national project.
"What about our region? Why injustice is done to our region every time?" asked the minister, who pointed out that Rayalaseema was already deprived of the state capital.
Kurnool, a town in Rayalaseema, was the capital of Andhra State, which was merged with Hyderabad State in 1956 to create Andhra Pradesh. The capital then moved to Hyderabad.
The Congress party announced that Hyderabad will be common capital of the two states for 10 years and Andhra Pradesh will build its own capital within that period.
Venkatesh said Rayalaseema, comprising four districts, was the most backward region with majority of 'mandals' prone to droughts.
