A public interest petition has been filed in the High Court with a request to declare the Gentlemen’s Agreement of 1956 as constitutionally binding on all the three regions of the state and to declare decision of the Congress Working Committee on July 30, 2013 to bifurcate the state as illegal and arbitrary.
J Narayanaswamy, an advocate from Anantapur district, submitted that there was Gentlemen’s Agreement among the three regions at the time of formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956. After formation of the new state, people from Andhra and Rayalaseema have settled in Hyderabad and invested several crores of rupees in their business activities in the state capital. Agitations took place because of the rulers’ failure to properly implement the Gentlemen’s Ggreement, Six-point Formula, etc.”
As for the demand for statehood to Telangana, he said the people of 14 districts, including Hyderabad, were opposing it but only nine districts were demanding it. For political gains the ruling party announced division of the state without taking into consideration the aspirations of the people of the majority districts. “As many as 26 MPs and 185 MLAs are opposing bifurcation.”
The petitioner requested the court to direct the state government to take alternative steps for functioning of the government offices, courts, RTC buses, etc. He also wanted the court to direct the government for implementation of the Gentlemen’s Agreement and Six-point Formula to solve the grievances of Telanganapeople.The matter will come up for hearing on Monday.