Cautioning that creation of Telangana is a threat for national security, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today said the division of the state would give rise to "bigger problems".
"It is not just a security concern for Hyderabad, Telangana or Andhra, but to the whole nation... Most of the Naxal leaders in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Odisha belong to Andhra Pradesh," Reddy told reporters here.
Flanked by his cabinet colleagues from Seemandhra region, he was briefing newspersons after meeting the Group of Ministers (GoM) which is looking into the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
The Chief Minister noted that Hyderabad has been targeted by terrorists since 1992. "Many have died due to communal tensions over the years. Hundreds, including police personnel, were killed by Naxals," Reddy recalled to drive home the point that security would become a difficult task if the state is split.
Reddy also raised apprehensions that Seemandhra region, which is a lower riparian region, would lose its right to use surplus water from Krishna River.
"Once the state of Telanagana is formed, it becomes a upper riparian state. There is a possibility that most of the projects built on surplus water will lose their right to use the water," Reddy stated.
Any disturbance in distribution of water in Andhra Pradesh will create lot of heartburns in both the regions, he said.
Noting that the only solution to solve a problem is getting the solution and not by creating a bigger problem, the Chief Minister said "henceforth, I requested them to reconsider their decision totally."
Answering queries, Reddy said he had favoured a good package for Telangana for improving education, irrigation and power facilities.
As the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, he said, "with authority" I am saying these problems will come. Division will have an everlasting and irrevocabale effect on the state," he added.
The Chief Minister also briefed about the issues of power and higher education.
