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Monday 11 January, 2010

Truce will not do, says Rosaiah on Telangana


Desaraju Surya
Hyderabad: Maintaining that a “temporary truce” was just not sufficient, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Konijeti Rosaiah has reiterated that it was the responsibility of the Government of India to find an “ever-lasting solution” to the current political turmoil in the state over the bifurcation issue.
In an exclusive chat, Rosaiah appealed to the national political parties to “think about it (the current turmoil) and do something” to help the state continue with the development process.
“An agitation had built up (over the demand for and against bifurcation of the state) and some destruction had also happened. Now, a temporary truce will not help…. the situation may resurface. Even if it requires time, they (Government of India) will have to give us an ever-lasting solution,” the Chief Minister said.
Asked what could be the logical solution to the current imbroglio, Rosaiah said: “It is not in our hands. This is an issue which has to be examined from different angles by the Government of India. Sitting here, there is no chance for us to say yes or no. If it is an issue that could be decided by me or someone else here, we can do it according to our thoughts. But this is an issue that is to be looked into by the Centre and they will have to give us an ever-lasting solution.”
The Chief Minister appealed to all political parties, including Congress, to leave the issue to the Centre. “Not just as the Chief Minister but more particularly as a citizen of Andhra Pradesh, my earnest appeal to all political parties is to please leave the issue to be sorted out at Delhi. Willingly or unwillingly, let us not become tools for hampering the development of the state,” he said.
Asked how was he reading the signals emanating from New Delhi that Telangana state could be a reality in the next 12 to 18 months, Rosaiah remarked in his usual witty style: “One, I have not understood any signals. Two, I am not opposed to anything that the Government of India finally does. I will abide faithfully and try to co-operate with the Government of India. My main concern is about the state and its development. Whatever the Centre does should contribute to it (development). Any decision they take will be acceptable to me.”
Like his predecessor Y S Rajasekhara Reddy does he too have any personal view on the bifurcation issue? “I have no personal opinion. As long as I am holding the post of Chief Minister in the state, I do not have any personal views. My personal view is not at all an issue in this matter.”
Questioned about the prevailing “hostile” atmosphere between people of Telangana and non-Telangana regions and the growing acrimony between them, the Chief Minister observed: “Whatever judgment the Centre gives on the issue any day, we all should abide by it. This is my appeal and approach also. In the meantime, difference of opinion among the people of different regions of the state is not desirable. We all should narrow down our differences and work as one. If the differences persist, it will lead to situations where public life is paralyzed and also unwittingly lead to destruction. Above all, it will hamper progress (of the state).”
On the demand for conducting a referendum on the state bifurcation issue, the Chief Minister maintained that it was not in the state government’s purview.