The APNGOs Association on Tuesday reiterated its demand that Central ministers and MPs from Seemandhra region should resign from their posts.
The state government employees have decided to continue their indefinite strike till they received a categorical assurance from the Centre that the state would be kept united. This comes after the failure of talks between chief secretary PK Mohanty, APNGOs and Secretariat Seemandhra Employees Forum on Tuesday.
It may be recalled that APNGOs are on indefinite strike from August 13 protesting against the Congress Working Committee (CWC) decision to divide the state. The strike completed 50 days on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters after the talks, APNGOs president P Ashok Babu said the chief secretary wanted them to call off the strike as Brahmostavams in Tirumala were beginning and also school children and people were suffering. Ashok Babu said the chief secretary failed to give any assurance relating to employees post-division as it was a political decision. “Even after 60 days of agitation, the government has no information regard the problems of the government employees,” he said, adding, “We want a political decision to stop the division of the state.”
The APNGOs had initially refused to participate in the talks with the chief secretary and wanted chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to hold the talks instead.
Earlier in the day, Ashok Babu stated that all MPs and Union ministers from Seemandhra region should quit. According to him, some MPs have already submitted their resignations, which were pending with Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.
Adding, he said MPs in such a case should vacate their official quarters in New Delhi and stop taking the official benefits and allowances. “The only way the MPs can convince the people is by forsaking all the benefits provided by the government, including government quarters and official cars. It will be morally right for them to come back to their respective constituencies as ordinary citizens, which can assure people of their commitment,” he said.
Ashok Babu said they had nothing to do with Antony committee, which is set to visit the state.
Claiming that the Cabinet note on Telangana was being delayed due to the pressure exerted by the employees, he said they will continue to exert pressure till the decision is withdrawn.
On the YSRC’s proposed public meeting in Hyderabad, Ashok Babu said anyone can hold a public meeting in Hyderabad and the government machinery has to ensure that the meeting goes off smoothly.
He found fault with the state police for denying permission to the employees to pay tributes at Gandhi statue on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi on Wednesday. “We have assured them that there will not be any banners or slogans. We will go in a procession and pay our respects. But, the police have denied us permission,” the APNGOs leader said.