HRD Minister MM Pallam Raju resigned from the union cabinet.
Hyderabad – After Tourism Minister Chiranjeevi, HRD Minister MM Pallam Raju on Friday resigned from the union cabinet in protest against the UPA government’s move to clear the formation of Telangana.
“Deeply offended and aggrieved that the cabinet did not take any note of our anguish. Cabinet has acted in great haste without understanding the issues or the statements of the people. It is harmful to the state,” he said.
“It is a very sad day for Andhra Pradesh,” he added.
The emotive state bifurcation issue has once again flared up in Andhra Pradesh with a 72-hour band throwing life out of gear in the entire Seemandhara region.
Though the issue has been simmering ever since the Congress Working Committee (CWC) gave its nod for the creation of Telangana as the nation’s 29th state, the pro-united Andhra leaders and people in Seemandhara and Rayalaseema had remained hopeful that the UP government may go for a last minute rethink on its stand.
However, with the Union Cabinet, yesterday, setting up a Group of Ministers (GoM) under Finance Minister P Chidambaram to work out the modalities for creation of the new state, the anger in Seemandhara has grown manifolds.
Textiles Minister KS Rao had offered to quit as well, reports said. Also, Congress’ V Aruna Kumar, MP from Rajahmundry, tendered his resignation both from the party and Parliament in protest over the decision.
Meanwhile, Congress MP from Seemandhra L Rajagopal today said he will move the Supreme Court challenging the move.
The move violates the federal principles and structure of the Constitution, he said.
Contending that majority of the people of Andhra Pradesh are against the bifurcation, he said when a resolution in this regard is moved in the State Assembly, “we will ensure that it is defeated”.
The 72-hour bandh is expected to be near total in the entire Seemandhara region and would be felt in cities like Vijayawada and Vishakapatnam. In Tirupati in Rayalaseema the situation is no better with devotees to Tirumala abode of Lord Venkateshwara finding it extremely difficult to reach the hill top shrine in absence of public transport.
The Seemandhara Lawyer Joint Action Committee (JAC) has also called a 48-hour-bandh in the 13 districts of Seemandhara and the Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers (APNGOs) Association has called for 48-hour blockade of national highways.
By approving Telangana, the Congress has stood to its poll promise; however, the party is yet to decipher how the issue will play out in Seemandhara and Rayalaseema where YSR Congress party has emerged a potent force.
Jagan’s release on bail after spending 16 months in jail in a corruption case was seen as a sign of the emerging tactic understanding between the YSR Congress Party and the Congress.
However, Jagan dropped a bombshell on the Congress by praising Narendra Modi – implying that he has kept his options open. “What I want Narendra Modi to do is, I appreciate Modi as an administrator, I want Modi to change this entire system in bringing every party on to a secular platform in the interest of the nation,” he said.
Another cause of worry for the Congress is Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. The CM has already made it more than clear that he is willing to stake his chair for a united Andhra Pradesh.
His opposition may make it that more difficult for the Congress to go ahead with the Telanagana plan.
Kiran Reddy convened an emergency meeting today with ministers, MPs, MLCs and MLAs from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema to discuss the developments following the Union Cabinet’s approval of bifurcation of the state.
A decision on en masse resignation by ministers and legislators is expected to be taken at the meeting.
