Congress leaders from Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema warned, on Thursday, that the state would face tumultuous times and uncertainty if the state was divided and a separate Telangana state was formed.
Talking to the media after submitting their representations to the Srikrishna Committee, Eluru MP Kavuri Sambhasiva Rao revealed that the Seemandhra leaders had given a powerpoint presentation emphasizing the importance of a united Andhra Pradesh.
The discussions between the Seemandhra leaders and the Srikrishna Panel took place for around 2.5 hours, at the Jubilee Hall.
Sambhasiva Rao said the Seemandhra leaders explained to the Commission that politically unemployed leaders from Telangana region are raising the controversial statehood issue. They said that these leaders are taking advantage of people's emotions and raising the issue for their selfish ends.
The Seemandhra leaders hoped that the Commission would give a favourable report respecting the sentiments of all people.
They feared that if a Telangana state is carved out of Andhra Pradesh, then the demand for separate statehood would arise from many states and pose a threat to national integration.
When asked to comment on the divergent opinions of the many leaders from Seemandhra over the issue, Sambhasiva Rao refused to comment.
Sambhasiva Rao also revealed that Union Ministers from the state would meet the Commission members separately.
Interestingly, only 10 leaders from the expected 20 Seemandhra leaders turned up at the Jubilee Hall to submit their representations.
Earlier, the MPs had met at Sambhasiva Rao's residence to discuss the presentation.