Hyderabad: Asserting that the ongoing
indefinite strike by government employees of the Telangana
region would not serve any purpose, Andhra Pradesh Chief
Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Tuesday appealed the striking
employees to call off their agitation in public interest.
"The Government of India already knows your sentiments
(on the statehood issue). There is nothing you can achieve
through strikes," the Chief Minister told media-persons here.
He noted that the Centre would take a decision on the
Telangana statehood demand based on a consultation process.
"The Centre is taking steps to address the issue through
consultations and taking the sentiments of people of the
region into consideration. The Congress is also trying to find
a solution through consultations," he added.
Reddy said people were badly affected due to the
indefinite strike which entered the eighth day today.
"Farmers, students, commuters and all other sections of
society in Telangana are facing problems because of the
strike. There is mental pressure on 30 lakh students as their
studies are disturbed. The parents` emotions are also getting
hurt. Agriculture is also affected because of the power crisis
caused by the strike," he said.
The effort to push the state into darkness by stopping
coal production at Singareni Collieries is condemnable, he
said adding that the state is now facing a shortage of 6.22
million units of power.
Andhra Pradesh is purchasing about 1,600 MW of power from
different sources but is still unable to fill the deficit.
While efforts are on to purchase coal from other states, the
Centre has been requested to arrange additional gas supplies
to independent power producers, he said.
Referring to the strike by employees of State Road
Transport Corporation, the Chief Minister said 10,000 buses
were off the roads, causing a lot of hardship to 84 lakh
commuters every day in Telangana alone.
"More than the monetary losses, we are more concerned
about the great inconvenience caused to people, particularly
the poor. Seven lakh people are suffering due to lack of work
under MGNREGP," he said.
In view of all this, he appealed to the employees to call
off the strike immediately.
Reddy, however, refused to answer any questions saying,
"I only wanted to make the appeal. I will not take any
questions."
Deputy Chief Minister Damodara Rajanarasimha, Finance
Minister A Ramanarayana Reddy, Chief Secretary S V Prasad and
other senior officials were also present on the occasion.
PTI
