No intention to create hope against bifurcation: Kiran Reddy

Says he aired personal views when speaking against division of Andhra Pradesh, even as he hints bifurcation is imminent

Taking a subtle shift in his stand against the state bifurcation, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday said he was speaking only out of his conviction and it was not meant to create any hope among the people of coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions about keeping the state united.

“Well, there is no issue if someone accepts that the division is imminent. But, whatever I am saying with regard to the problems that arise from the bifurcation is my own stand. Neither I am speaking on behalf of others nor I am trying to create hopes (of possible stopping),” he told Business Standard in response to a question on the possible fallout of his staunch opposition if the people of Seemandhra are subjected to a sudden shock.

The chief minister also sought to clarify, rather on a conciliatory note, that he spoke against the bifurcation only in a principled stand and there was nothing personal in this regard.

His sober responses on division came on the day he held a media get together to mark the completion of three years in office. He only smiled when a scribe sought to interpret the tone of his conversation as a farewell speech.

Kiran Kumar Reddy reiterated that the people on  both the sides would suffer if the state gets divided. “What I have said in public is just 25-30 per cent of what I told my party leadership in private on this subject,” he said when asked as to why he continues with his rhetoric against the state division when he could not  impress upon Delhi to stop the same.

Responding to a question on perceived injustice to the Telangana region in water utilisation, Reddy said  water from Krishna river was, in fact, diverted to the projects in Telangana and not vice versa. When asked as to what was he going to do when the Telangana Bill is sent to the state legislative Assembly, he refused to give a direct answer. Reports suggest that the Bill is likely to be sent to the Assembly early next month.

The chief minister said his government had implemented several welfare schemes and also put efforts to bring investments even though his government continued to face problems on account of agitations.