Point driven home about Samaikya stir, says APNGO leader

New Delhi: The APNGOs Association leaders who are agitating against the bifurcation of the state came to Delhi to discuss their problems with the leaders of the National Parties and ministers and elected representatives from the Seemandhra region. APNGOs Association President Ashok Babu spoke to HMTV on the talks with the politicians.

Ashok Babu: We have a feeling that we committed a mistake by not coming to Delhi at the right time to discuss our problems with the leaders of the national parties. Except the Prime Minister, the leaders of all other national parties we met said that the Congress party took the decision to divide Andhra Pradesh for its political benefit without solving the problems arising out of the decision. They said the problems should be resolved before proceeding with the process of bifurcation. Even the CPI leaders who supported the demand for bifurcation admitted that the problems faced by the employees and the people should be sorted out before implementing the decision.

We are happy that we could speak to the MPs and the Ministers from the Seemandhra region together and discussed our problems. At the meeting which lasted for two and half hour to three hours, we explained all our problems to them. They listened patiently and promised us that they would fight until our problems were resolved. They would go to any extent in Parliament in support of our demands.

Regarding resignations, they told us that they were prepared to resign immediately. But then you would not have anybody to ventilate your view point here after our resignations. “If you are prepared to make such an arrangement, we would resign immediately,” they told us. This was stated by Chiranjeevi, Kavuri Sambasiva Rao and others.

They said they could not participate in the Samaikyandhra movement because the people did not have any faith in them. They asked us to convince the people about their good intentions. They promised to extend all help for the meeting scheduled to be held in Hyderabad on September 7. They offered to speak to the government to get permission for the meeting. They offered to send their representatives to participate in the meeting and express their feelings and explain their plan of action for the people, if we agree. They said if we come to Delhi after the meeting, a joint action plan could be drawn up to fight for the demand of Samaikyandhra.

Regarding resignations, ministers and peoples’ representatives from Seemandhra expressed their readiness to resign immediately, if we demand. We told them to chalk their action plan to keep the state united and give it to us so that we can discuss and convey our reaction.

We are happy with the outcome of our discussions with the representatives of the national parties. Now they understand how difficult it is to go ahead with the decision to divide the state. We are also happy that we could bring all the elected representatives from Seemandhra at one place to discuss the repercussions of bifurcation of the state for the first time.

HMTV: Will the ministers and Seemandhra elected representatives participate in Hyderabad meeting?

Ashok Babu: They said they are prepared to send their representatives to the meeting if they were allowed. We have to discuss and take a decision on the issue.

Ashok Babu: There is difference between decision of political parties and the actions of the elected representatives. That is why there were suspensions from Parliament some members of political parties who defied their party decision on the floor of the House. The elected representatives have that right in a democracy. That is why eleven members were suspended from Parliament. Even the BJP leaders said the process should go forward only after solving the problems arising out of the bifurcation.

Ashok Babu: Only time tell. I cannot say anything. They may come to the conclusion that it is better to keep the state united instead of solving the problems arising out of bifurcation. Only time will decide.