Congress MLC Mohammad Ali Shabbir on Wednesday said that the Centre was taking all measures to restore normalcy in Andhra Pradesh, especially in the agitation-hit Seemandhra regions.
Talking to media persons after meeting Digvijay Singh in Delhi, Shabbir Ali said that he had briefed the AICC general secretary about the latest situation in the state after the Union Cabinet's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh to carve out Telangana was announced.
He also said he had conveyed the gratitude expressed by the Telangana Congress leaders to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and AICC Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for their favourable decision on Telangana.
Shabbir Ali told Digvijay Singh that the Congress party has fulfilled the aspirations of the people of Telangana by accepting a demand which was pending for the last 6 decades.
He said that he had briefed Digvijay Singh about the schedule of victory rallies being planned in the Telangana region by the Telangana Congress leaders. He said that the first rally would be held at Bodhan in Nizamabad district on October 18.
The former minister appealed to the Seemandhra leaders to cooperate in the smooth bifurcation of AP, and the formation of Telangana.
He assured that the Congress government would address all the concerns raised by the Seemandhra leaders and people. He also appealed to the Seemandhra employees to call off their strike immediately, as it has been causing inconvenience to the common people.
Shabbir Ali also condemned TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and YSRCP president Jaganmohan Reddy for undertaking a fast against the state's bifurcation. He said that both the leaders had taken a U-turn after openly supporting statehood for the Telangana region.
He said, "Naidu and Jagan are trying to gain political mileage out of the current situation. However, Telangana is now a reality, and their tactics won't force the Centre to change its decision." (INN)