Digivijay Singh Promises Package For Seemandhra

AICC general secretary and in-charge of Andhra Pradesh Congress Affairs Digvijay Singh promised a "package" for the development of the Seemandhra region.

"Assure all Seemandhra people of their genuine concern of Security in H'bad Education, Health Employment and package for Development," Digvijay Singh tweeted on Monday. He also appealed to Seemandhra employees to suspend their strike and resume their duties. "They are losing their salaries, and causing hardship to people," he said in another tweet.

Speaking to media persons later, Digvijay Singh said, "The Congress party took its decision on Telangana only after holding a consultation process. The Telangana issue is not new. The demand was raised several times, and the Centre had reacted to them. Even the first State Reorganisation Commission had recommended Telangana."

Digvijay Singh said that when Dr. Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was the Leader of the Opposition, a group of Congress legislators had made a representation to the then President of India on the Telangana issue.

Subsequently, the issue of Telangana was mentioned in the 2004 Congress manifesto, and also in the presidential address of 2004. The Pranab Mukherjee Committee and the Union Home Ministers had held consultations with all the stake holders, he said.

"The Congress party took the decision only after all parties gave in writing their support for Telangana. They can change their stand, but we cannot," he said.

Digvijay Singh said, "Special focus would be given to the backward areas of the Seemandhra region. Further, the Centre would address the concerns of those living in Hyderabad, their security, education, rights and the employees' welfare."

He added that the A K Antony Committee was in receipt of representations by different groups, and that they would be submitted to the Group of Ministers through Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Further, the Centre will consider giving tax concessions for the region, he said.

He appealed to Seemandhra employees to end their strike in public interest. "They are losing their salaries while people are being put to hardship. There is no power in several areas of the Seemandhra region. Power is being generated, but it could not be distributed due to the strike," he said.

He also condemned the violence in the Seemandhra region, especially in Vizianagaram. He said that he had spoken to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy about the latest situation, and that he had asked him to provide security to all sections of the people. When asked about the criticism of TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu faulting the process of announcing Telangana, he asked Naidu to explain what should have been the process. (INN)