After open rebellion against the UPA’s decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh, the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has now re-established communication channel with the Congress bosses in Delhi.
Taking strong exception to “conflicting statements” being made by the Central leaders over the state bifurcation issue, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today called AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh and questioned him on what procedure was being exactly followed in the matter.
“Basing on your earlier statement, I have assured employees that the Telangana resolution will come twice for Assembly’s nod, basing on which I gave them my word and they agreed to withdraw strike on a temporary basis. Now there is a different statement altogether coming from Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde,” the Chief Minister told Singh.
Shinde had told reporters in Delhi on Thursday that the Centre was not bound by the Assembly’s opinion on division of the state. The conflicting statements emanating from the Centre are spreading confusion among the political circles.
For the first time after the July 30 CWC announcement, Kiran seems to have finally reconnected with the party heads in Delhi.
After the successful withdrawal of strike by Electricity employees, teachers of state-run schools and colleges in Seemandhra region agreed to return to work. Over two lakh teachers have resumed their duties from Friday.
Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy told reporters that the teachers decided to end the strike after the government made an appeal to them to return to work to save the academic year of the students.
The strike had badly affected the studies of over 50 lakh students in 13 districts of Seemandhra.
On Friday, the Secretariat Seemandhra Employees, after their meeting with the Chief Minister also withdrew their strike, saying that administration requires their help during cyclone. Farmers JAC also met the Chief Minister at the camp office, where he assured them that he will protect the interest of Seemandhra farmers.
However the six lakh employees under APNGOs and APSRTC unions still have to fall in line.
The RTC unions say that they need clarity on the proposed takeover by the government and the APNGOs have decided to intensify the stir.
“We are ready to continue our strike till the 2014 elections if the Centre goes ahead with bifurcation,” P Ashok Babu, president of the AP Non-Gazetted Officers Association, said at a rally.
