Bhadrachalam part of Telangana

Jaipal Reddy, in his 30-minute presentation, stressed the need for formation of Telangana state without any conditions. He argued that Hyderabad was an integral part of Telangana. Although it is unprecedented that Hyderabad has to be the joint capital, he insisted that the control over Hyderabad should be vested in Telangana Government.

During the past 60 years, whenever a new state was created, nowhere was a joint capital was created, he said. When the erstwhile Bombay State was divided to form Gujarat and Maharashtra, Mumbai was not made Union Territory nor was it the joint capital for Maharashtra and Gujarat. Similarly, when Andhra state was carved out of erstwhile Madras state in 1953, Chennai was not made the joint capital. Since the CWC had proposed such an arrangement, they were willing to accept it but there should be no restrictions imposed on it, he said. Article 371-D, which provides certain safeguards to Seemandhra in employment, should be continued, he said. There was no difference of opinion between government employees of Telangana and Seemandhra on continuing it, he said. Jaipal Reddy said a tribunal would be adequate for sharing of the Krishna river water but there was no need for a tribunal for Godavari water.

Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Sarvey Satyanarayana, who spoke for 15 minutes, gave a detailed account why Telangana should be created. It was a long-pending demand that was support by the States Reorganisation Commission headed Justice Fazal Ali and the first Prime Minister of free India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The BJP had coined the slogan in 1998 of one vote and two states.

Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj promised to support Telangana with 10 districts and Hyderabad as the capital. This was the promise made in the CWC Resolution of July 30. If the GoM deviates from it, then it would only be giving a handle to the BJP to backtrack. No room should be given to the BJP to backtrack now, he said. Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment P Balram Naik made a separate presentation to the GoM on Bhadrachalam.

He argued the CWC Resolution of July 30 favoured Telangana comprising 10 districts with Hyderabad as capital.

Khammam is part of Telangana and Bhadrachalam is part of Khammam. He also pointed out that people in the temple town had been agitating against merger with Seemandhra.