The comments made by YSR Congress party general secretary and advisor to the Andhra Pradesh government Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy in support of merger of the two Telugu states again continue to evoke strong reactions from various quarters.
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (now, Bharat Rashtra Samithi) leaders have strongly objected to Sajjala’s comments saying he was trying to provoke the people of Telangana all over again by saying that his party would try for the merger of Telangana with Andhra.
Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have alleged that Sajjala was playing the mind game in collusion with the BRS, to trigger the Telangana sentiment again so as to benefit the BRS in the next elections.
Even YSRC president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s sister and YSR Telangana Party president Y S Sharmila said there was no meaning in Sajjala’s statement, saying the bifurcation of the combined state is irreversible.
On Saturday, former chief secretary I Y R Krishna Rao, known for his critical comments against the Jagan Mohan Reddy government on social media, took pot shots at Sajjala and said the bifurcation of the combined state had, in fact, helped the YSRC.
“Had the combined state not been bifurcated, the YSRC coming to power would have been a mirage. It is undeniable fact that the formation of separate Telangana state had helped YSRC politically,” he tweeted.
IYR further said: “In any case, everybody is aware that formation of combined state by merger of two Telugu states is an impossible proposition. What is interesting to know is why Sajjala has made the comment. Is it to create a meaningless Telangana sentiment again? If it is, who will benefit from it? And who will face the loss? What is the strategy behind making such comments?” he asked.
IYR also targeted former Congress MP from Rajahmundry Vundavalli Arun Kumar for digging the old grave by raking up bifurcation issues. If at all any injustice was done to Andhra Pradesh, it happened during the nine years of rule of Chandrababu Naidu and Jagan, he pointed out.
“The state, which should have raced ahead towards development given its tremendous natural resources, suffered heavily even after the bifurcation. It will be better if intellectuals like you can think of alternatives that can take the state on right track,” IYR said.