The Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has done it again.
Continuing his acts of defiance over the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, he invoked the former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi's political legacy to drive home his point that the state should remain united.
Participating in an official function at Visakhapatnam on the occasion of the 29th death anniversary of the former Prime Minister, Kiran said that it was because of Indira Gandhi's foresight and political determination that Andhra Pradesh is united.
"It was Indira Gandhi who resisted the calls for separation and made it clear that AP will remain united. I am following her ideals," the Chief Minister declared.
After the state was rocked by agitations, first in 1969 for separate Telangana state and then in 1972 for separate Andhra state, the then Prime Minister had steadfastly remained committed to the integrated state and was the only leader to declare boldly that AP would prosper if it remained united.
"I am only repeating what that great leader had said. She sacrificed every drop of her blood for the well-being of the country. Her loss is being felt in the state now," he said.
By invoking Indira Gandhi's name to strengthen the argument for united AP cause, the Chief Minister has clearly posed a challenge to the present Congress leadership.
