Jagan quits as MP over Andhra split, party`s stand unclear

Hyderabad: YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy on Saturday resigned as Kadapa MP in protest against "unilateral and arrogant posturing" of Congress party on the proposed division of Andhra Pradesh but stopped short of spelling out his party`s stand on the statehood issue.

Simultaneously, Jagan`s mother and honorary president of YSR Congress Y S Vijaya too resigned from the membership of the state Assembly over the issue. Jagan and Vijaya announced their resignations in an "open letter," released by the YSRC here this evening, even as party MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy said both the resignation letters were "faxed" to Speakers of the respective Houses. "Jagan faxed his resignation letter to Lok Sabha Speaker through the (Chanchalguda) jail authorities. It will also be sent by post," YSRC MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy told reporters this evening. Vijaya, who represents Pulivendula constituency, also faxed her resignation to the Assembly Speaker`s office. "Her resignation will also be sent to the Speaker by a special messenger," Mekapati said. But, Jagan and Vijaya did not clearly spell out YSRC`s stand on the bifurcation of the state and blamed Congress and Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP for the current situation, even as they expressed "solidarity" with people affected by the division. "Without looking into reality, your unilateral posturing has put our state in disarray and with the hope that our resignations would change your thinking process, we submit our resignations in protest," Jagan and Vijaya said in the open letters. They also accused Congress of further complicating the statehood issue. "We are quitting our posts to express solidarity with the crores of people who have hit the streets to fight the injustice meted out to them by the division of the state without considering the consequences," they added. People from Rayamaseema and Coastal Andhra Pradesh are protesting the proposed division of the state since the Congress Working Committee (CWC) adopted a resolution last month to carve out separate Telangana state. Lashing out at the Congress for making the state division "its own party affair", YSRC leaders accused the party of showing "scant respect" to the sentiments of people by appointing a four-member committee headed by Union Defence Minister A K Antony rather than a government committee that could listen to the viewpoints of all stakeholders. "A solution that is acceptable to all parties and that no region is put to disadvantage was the crux of our letter earlier written to the Central government. "If the Central government feels that the division is inevitable and there exists no other option, Telangana issue should not be looked at in a political perspective for the individual benefit of political parties and leaders," they added. If you cannot do `justice" then you have no power to split the state. If division is inevitable, what we ask is, it should be done in a manner that is agreeable to all stakeholders and no injustice is meted out to anyone...If you are unable to do justice, then you should leave the state untouched," Jagan and Vijaya said. Jagan and Vijaya alleged that Congress and opposition TDP were playing with the lives of Seemandhra people. "While the Congress was behaving in a unilateral way, the main opposition TDP was thinking only in terms of political gains (over the statehood issue). Both are playing with the lives of Seemandhra people," they charged. The YSRC leaders pointed out that issues of water and status of Hyderabad are two major issues that remain unresolved. "A situation should not arise where we would be fighting over water in future. When it comes to Hyderabad, it is a city that has been inhabited by people of all regions and religions for decades," they said. "It took nearly 60 years to build the city after Madras was denied to these people 60 years ago. About 60 per cent of the state revenue comes of Hyderabad. After completing education, students of all regions look towards Hyderabad for their prospective careers," they said. Hyderabad city has been built over a period of 60 years but we are being asked to build a similar city in ten years elsewhere, the leaders said, adding that Hyderabad contributes Rs 40,000 crore towards state taxes, Rs 35,000 crore towards central taxes and Rs 15,000 crore of local revenues. "The total yield comes to a whopping Rs 90,000 crore. Keeping in mind these important issues a proper decision should be taken on the city during the division, ensuring that there is no barrier to the funds and also assuring safety to people and employees," they added. Referring to a "rumour" that a `Rayala Telangana` state could be created by splitting four districts of Rayalaseema region into equal halves, the duo questioned that "If sentiment is the yardstick (for creation of Telangana state), then wouldn`t Rayalaseema people also have the same sentiment?.. How is it right to split Rayalaseema into two halves? PTI