Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister M M Pallam Raju on Wednesday criticized the manner in which the Andhra Pradesh re-organization Bill has been taken forward, and added that the Bill in its current form does not do justice to any region.
"There is a lot of anguish in Andhra Pradesh in the manner in which this AP Re-organization Bill has been brought to the Cabinet first, and the manner in which it has been proceeded. And in its current form, it does not do justice to any region," he told media here today.
He further said that a lot of issues related to water-sharing, security of people, and farmer's concerns have not been addressed adequately.
"And, I think, that major concerns related to water, feeling of security of the people living around Hyderabad have not been addressed adequately. And, the concerns of the farmers, because it is all dependent on water, that has also not been addressed. In this manner and against democratic norms, the Bill is being proceeded. We are very unhappy about it and that is why this agitation has taken place," he added.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and his ministerial colleagues from the Seemandhra region began a sit down protest at Jantar Mantar today to oppose the creation of a new state of Telangana.
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Earlier in the day, scores of pro and anti-Telangana protesters broke into a scuffle outside Andhra Bhawan over the Telangana Bill, which is expected to be tabled in the current session of the Parliament.
Supporters from both sides of the divide were holding the protests outside the Andhra Bhawan when the scuffle began.
The Centre is determined to introduce the bill in Parliament.
Describing Telangana issue as 'vital', Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said the government will be presenting a bill relating to the creation of the state of Telangana in Parliament.
The Andhra Pradesh Assembly had earlier rejected the draft Bill to create a separate Telangana state.
On December 5, last year, the Cabinet cleared the Parliamentary bill for bifurcating the Andhra Pradesh to create a separate Telangana state, with 10 districts. In July last year, the ruling Congress party approved the creation of a new Telangana state, which had raised fears of violence in the area.
The proposal was received with mixed emotions across the state, with various politicians starkly opposing the bifurcation.
