YSRCP accused the CM of misusing the police and government machinery to get Y S Vijayamma arrested.
Describing the arrest of its honorary president Y S Vijayamma as a state sponsored act, YSR Congress Party on Friday demanded that N Kiran Kumar Reddy quit his post immediately, as he has "failed to act as the Chief Minister of a unified state".
Party senior leader Konatala Ramakrishna, in his statement to the press said, "Kiran Kumar Reddy is putting on the garb of the champion of a united AP. He has misused the police and government machinery to get Vijayamma arrested, and to prevent her from visiting the flood-hit areas of Nalgonda district."
"When Chandrababu Naidu was allowed to tour in the Telangana districts, why can't our leaders do the same? Why are we facing this discrimination and political victimization?" he asked the government.
"At a time when all parties and leaders should express their solidarity and support to the flood victims and farmers who have suffered heavy losses, Vijayamma undertook the tour of the Khammam and Nalgonda districts, which is also a part of her 4-day tour across the state," he said.
While the people of Khammam whole-heartedly welcomed her and explained their problems, Congress feared that she might get the same popular response in Nalgonda district also, Konatala said.
"We don't find any other reason for her arrest except that Congress is terrified of the popularity our party has, even in Telangana," he said, adding that the arrest was totally unjustified, unwarranted and undemocratic.
He said that it is "sad and shameful" that she was prevented from reaching the affected people, and asked "Are we living in a democratic state or a dictator-set up? Is Telangana not part of Andhra Pradesh? Don't we have the right to visit the Telangana districts?"
The way the government has acted and misused its police and official machinery, for arresting and preventing her from visiting the Nalgonda district gives the feeling that the state is already divided, he remarked.
Accusing Chandrababu Naidu and Kiran Kumar of facilitating the process of bifurcation of the state smoothly, Konatala said that both of them are "hoodwinking the people".
"Kiran is wearing the mask of an integrationist while Naidu is doing the same and helping the Congress High Command, to speed up the process of bifurcation. Naidu's statement that the Centre is planning to hold another all party meet only to corner TDP is ridiculous," he averred.
The Union Cabinet approved the Cabinet note on bifurcation only after Naidu's Delhi trip, he said.
The government announced the constitution of GoM only after Naidu began his "Deeksha" in Delhi.
"And now as per his earlier demand only, the Home Ministry is also convening another all party meet," he observed.
Ramakrishna confirmed that the party had received the letter from the Union Home Ministry, eliciting suggestions and proposals on 11 points concerning the division.
"There is no change in our stand over keeping the state united. The contents of the letter will be discussed in the party and the party leadership will take a decision," he maintained. (INN)