Jagan to Prez: Need to delete 371-D

• Jagan also meets Sharad Yadav
• Pranab says he would examine
• Sharad to demand discussion in parliament

New Delhi: YSRCP supremo Y S Jaganmohan Reddy on Saturday called on President Pranab Mukherjee to demand that the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh cannot take place, until and unless Article 371-D of the Constitution is deleted through Constitutional amendment. He also demanded amendment to Article 3 to prevent its misuse in the future. After patiently hearing him out, the President is understood to have told Jaganmohan Reddy that he would examine it.

After meeting Mukherjee, Jaganmohan Reddy said, “The Congress is implementing divide and rule policy in Andhra Pradesh. We explained the circumstances that will arise after the bifurcation and about the need to delete Article 371-D of the Constitution, before proceeding in the matter.”

Deletion of Article 371-D of the Constitution involves Constitutional Amendment.

Jaganmohan Reddy said he gave a representation to the President where he insisted on keeping Andhra Pradesh united. When Andhra Pradesh remained united for over 60 years, there was no compelling reason to divide the state now, he told the President.

Demanding amendment to Article 3 of the Constitution, Jagan said the Centre could not be trusted with absolute powers to create states at its own sweet whims and fancies. If that is done, then any government in the future, when it feels that it cannot win in a particular state, will simply go ahead to divide such a state. There was an urgent need to amend Article 3 of the Constitution, he said.

During his meeting with Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav, Jaganmohan Reddy argued that there should be a well-established procedure put in place for the reorganisation of states.

A Resolution in the parent State Assembly should initiate the process and the power should not be given to the Centre, he said. He went on to claim that creation of a state should require two-thirds majority not only in the state Assembly but in Parliament, as well.

After his meeting with Jaganmohan Reddy, Sharad Yadav said, “How can division of a state be possible, without the concerned state Assembly Resolution? We will demand a discussion on this issue when the Telangana Bill comes to Parliament. I never supported separate state of Telangana.”

The YSRCP supremo was accompanied by senior party leaders like Mekapati Rajmohan Reddy, M V Mysura Reddy and S P Y Reddy, during his meetings with the President and Sharad Yadav.