Bharat Rashtra Samithi on Tuesday took it easy with the demand of former Anantapur MP and Telugu Desam Party leader J C Diwakar Reddy for the merger of Rayalaseema region with Telangana.
Citing the backwardness of Rayalaseema region, Diwakar Reddy had demanded that the region should be merged with Telangana. Alternatively, the former minister, while speaking to the media in Anantapur on Monday, pitched for a separate Rayalaseema State.
Senior BRS leader and state energy minister G Jagadish Reddy brushed aside the demand and said Andhra Pradesh could witness a comprehensive development only if the BRS comes to power in the neighbouring state as well.
He said Diwakar Reddy’s demand might have come from the lack of development in Andhra Pradesh. He reminded that impressed with Telangana’s welfare and development programmes, many people from other States, including Maharashtra and Karnataka, were demanding merger of their villages with the State.
“The Rayala Telangana demand came to the fore only due to the failures of the Andhra Pradesh government in ensuring development in the region,” he said.
“If Andhra Pradesh has to witness rapid welfare and development, then people should elect a party led by a visionary leader like Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to power,” Reddy said.
The people of Andhra Pradesh should bear in mind that Bangaru Andhra Pradesh (golden AP) on the lines of Bangaru Telangana would be possible only under the leadership of Chandrashekhar Rao, he said.
The Minister also clarified that the merger of Rayalaseema with Telangana or the formation of a separate Rayalaseema would not be possible.
Another BRS leader and former minister Danam Nagender said not just people from Rayalaseema, but many from other States were also appealing to merge their villages with Telangana. The overwhelming response for BRS public meetings in Maharashtra reflects the mood of the people, he said.
“Instead of seeking merger with Telangana, Rayalaseema people should elect BRS to power in Andhra Pradesh to ensure development. KCR will also ensure completion of the Polavaram project within a short time like the Kaleshwaram project,” Nagender said.
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