Expressing deep anguish over the arbitrary bifurcation of the state, YSR Congress party Chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy demanded that Congress president Sonia Gandhi revoke the decision immediately.
"Sonia Gandhi is responsible for the crisis in the state. She has been playing with the sentiments of the people with the singular motive of seeing to it that her son Rahul Gandhi is made Prime Minister," he told media at the Lotus Pond camp office, where he began his
indefinite fast this morning demanding that the Centre review its decision of bifurcating the state.
He appealed to Sonia Gandhi to reconsider the decision, as creating a new state would badly affect the future generations of one region. "The division is arbitrary in nature and does not address all issues that are bound to crop up after the bifurcation," he opined.
"The motive of the division could be political, but Delhi cannot play with the sentiments of the people of one region. I once again appeal to the Centre to roll back its decision on division," he said, adding that the BJP should also take a call on the issue and stand up for a united state.
Wondering why TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu is on a hunger strike (in Delhi), he said, "There is no valid reason for such double standards, as he has already given his consent for the creation of a Telangana state. If he is sincere, he should be categorical about his support for a united state, and send a letter to that effect, superceding his earlier letter."
"Water-sharing will be a major issue which will have far-reaching consequences," he said, "Krishna waters flow into our state only after the needs of Maharashtra and Karnataka are fulfilled. Unless Almatti and Narayanpur are filled, water does not drop into our state. If another state is created in between, where will Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar get water from?"
"How can the Group of Ministers solve such major issues in a short period of 6 weeks? Water-sharing disputes between states are acute despite tribunals. Karnataka and Tamil Naidu are still fighting it out on the sharing of Cauvery waters," he said.
"Krishna water sharing will have volatility if a new state comes in between. Farmers along the Krishna ayacut will be on a warpath.
"When an Ordinance can be taken back, why can't a Cabinet note be revoked? This is the first time in the country that a state is being divided without a resolution being passed in the state Assembly," he said, and demanded that the Centre and the Congress leadership withdraw the decision on division in the larger interest of the people. (INN)