YSRCP stands firm on Samaikyandhra

YSR Congress party, on Wednesday, spoke about the need for Samaikyandhra in the meeting called by GoM, constituted to deal with the issue of state bifurcation.

The GoM met representatives from the TRS, BJP, CPI, Congress and MIM yesterday and YSRCP and CPI(M) today.
YSRCP representatives M. V. Mysoora Reddy and Gattu Ramachandra Rao vehemently opposed the division of the state in the meeting.  Reiterating their demand for a United Andhra, the YSRCP leaders said, "There is no change in our stand. It was same then and it is same now.  We will oppose every step taken towards the bifurcation of the State. Our Party demands with clarity and conviction that the State should be united, and should not be divided under any circumstances."

In a letter directed to GoM, the YSRCP posted some straight and simple questions.

• Can the Centre use the powers vested on it arbitrarily take undue advantage to garner a few votes and seats?
• The Central Government has taken a unilateral decision to divide the State on December 9, 2009 and decision was dubbed by Congress as a birthday gift by Party President Sonia Gandhi. Can such yardstick be applied for dividing the State?
• Though the Centre has the power to divide the State, can it take decisions without any concrete basis and rationality? The Centre does not recognize the fact that Andhra Pradesh state was formed on recommendations of the State Reorganization commission (SRC) which regrouped the states on linguistic basis in 1955. After 66 years of independence and 63 years of constitution in force, and 57 years of unification of Andhra Pradesh, can the Centre create a wedge between regions and decide to divide the state with political motives for gaining votes and seats? Is it justified?
• There are numerous demands for separate states elsewhere in the country. In some cases, the concerned assemblies have adopted and favoured a resolution for the division and sent it to the Centre, which in turn have been ignored thus far. But it is moving at a break-neck speed to split Andhra Pradesh just six months ahead of the general elections. Why?
• If the Centre endorses the division of Andhra Pradesh today, such arbitrary procedure in the days to come will it not set a precedent for any Government at the Centre in future to arbitrarily divide any State with a simple majority in the Parliament?
• How did the Centre take decision on bifurcating the State on October 3, 2013 without the consent of the State Assembly? Earlier, Srikrishna Committee in its report suggested that the State stands to lose if it is divided and in the first preference it has mentioned to keep the State united. In that case what is the basis of the Cabinet note on division? Is it justified?
• Public opinion and the State Assembly are the genuine basis for any decision. In that case without taking the Assembly into confidence, why were things taken so far, by setting up of GoM which in turn is seeking reports from concerned department secretaries and parties? 
• Till now 28 States are formed in the country. Why is the Government side-stepping the established best practicesin formation of a state when it comes to Andhra Pradesh? You do not want to take Assembly into confidence and do not want a resolution to be adopted. Why?

- Sakshipost