The poison of regional hatred that KCR sowed seems to be slowly seeping into the mindsets of Seemandhra politicians as well, if the recent statement by a YSRCP leader is any indication.
Gudiwada Amarnath, YSRCP President of Vizag district said that Activists of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) plan to stage a maha dharna in front of the Waltair divisional railway manager's (DRM) office on February 24 demanding a separate railway zone with headquarters at Vizag.
Pointing out that the Waltair division, with annual revenue of around Rs 6,000 crore, is one of the highest revenue earners among all railway divisions in the country, he said a separate railway zone will not only pave the way for the development of north Andhra districts but also both the Godavari districts and will create jobs for the unemployed youth of the region.
Amarnath said that as per the AP Reorganisation Act, the Centre should have sanctioned a separate railway zone for AP but it has done nothing even nine months after coming to power.
“Both the TDP and BJP governments have been cheating the people. The TDP and BJP MPs such as K Hari Babu, Kothapalli Geetha, Ashok Gajapathi Raju, K Rammohan and Avanthi Srinivas are not putting forth the issue forcefully enough before the central government at a time when it is preparing the railway and Union budgets,“ he alleged.
So far, so good and whatever Amarnath said is absolutely true. But then Amarnath also accused Vijayawada and Guntur MP’s of conspiring to get the new zone for their region.
The last statement by Amarnath even if true is regrettable. AP needs a new railway zone and while Vizag is ideally placed, it does not matter even if it is located elsewhere in the State.
At a juncture when all regions of AP need to join hands for the overall progress of the State, dissensions along regional lines are the last thing we need.
