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Andhra bifurcation was UPA’s most difficult decision: Jairam
NEW DELHI: The bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to create the new state of Telangana in March 2014 was “the most difficult decision” of the then UPA government, former
NEW DELHI: The bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to create the new state of Telangana in March 2014 was “the most difficult decision” of the then UPA government, former Union minister Jairam Ramesh has told Hindustan Times.
“...the bifurcation of Telangana turned out to be the most difficult, most agonising and as it turned out, the most thankless decision,” said Ramesh, whose latest book ‘Old History New Geography: Bifurcating Andhra Pradesh’ has hit the stands. Ramesh also indicated that YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s death in a chopper accident was a turning point in the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
YS Rajasekhara Reddy was a two-time chief minister of AP.
“I have written in my book that YSR’s death gave KCR life. YSR was a strong, resourceful and a daredevil leader. His death orphaned the Congress party in Andhra Pradesh. The other decisive point was (the then) home minister P Chidambaram’s statement on December 9, 2009, at 11.30pm that gave a boost to the demand of Telangana,” said Ramesh, who was earlier an MP from Andhra Pradesh.
Chidambaram had said, “The process of forming the state of Telangana will be initiated. An appropriate resolution will be moved in the state assembly.”
The former minister, who had played a key role in preparing the Andhra Pradesh bifurcation bill, said there were divided opinions within the Congress.
He also trained his guns on the BJP. “BJP leader LK Advani earlier wrote a letter saying we oppose the creation of Telangana. But later they became a great supporter of the Telangana movement. Now, Modi had betrayed the people of Andhra Pradesh as commitments made by Modi’s predecessor, Manmohan Singh, of special category status were not honoured by the NDA government. NDA has not supported the building of the new capital. Modi is doing his best to undercut Naidu. BJP is trying to discredit TDP in Andhra. It is not implementing the reorganisation law.”
