The UPA government on Friday decided to recommend to President Pranab Mukherjee to impose Central rule in Andhra Pradesh in the wake of incumbent N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s resignation on February 19. The Union Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, discussed the report of Governor ESL Narasimhan who has favoured President’s rule in the State while keeping the Assembly in suspended animation.
The State Assembly’s term will end on June 2. While accepting the Governor’s recommendation, the Cabinet also approved sops to soothe agitating Seemandhra leaders. It cleared two important proposals — three Kendriya Vidyalaya Schools (KVS) in Kadapa, Guntur and East Godavari districts and a National Institute of Design (NID) in Vijayawada. NID will offer under-graduate and post-graduate courses.
Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, who played a key role in the bifurcation process, also revealed that the President is likely to give his assent to the AP Reorganisation Bill-2014 in a day or two. “After that, an expert committee will be formed to look into issues like finding a capital for Seemandhra. As of now, there are multiple claims and before taking a decision, the committee will visit each of the cities from wherever representations come to look into it,” Jairam Ramesh said at a press briefing.
He also clarified that Seemandhra has been given special status for five years as all revenue of Hyderabad will go to Telangana from the appointed day. “The demand for providing special status to Seemandhra did not come from BJP but Congress MPs and MLAs from the region, who had met Congress president (Sonia Gandhi) and vice-president (Rahul Gandhi),” he claimed.
A Minister, who attended the meeting, said several names like Visakhapatnam, Kurnool, Tirupati and Vijayawada were suggested for the new capital of the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh and when the expert committee starts the process, these alternatives will be examined. According to the AP Reorganisation Bill, the expert committee, after studying the various alternatives, will submit its report within 45 days.
Reactions to Imposition
of Prez Rule
It is an appropriate decision in the present circumstances.
— Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, finance minister
The Centre took the decision after talking to leaders of Telangana and Seemandhra.
— Ponnala Lakshmiah,
IT minister
Now I can concentrate on electioneering in my Zaheerabad constituency.
— J.Geetha Reddy,
industries minister
It is a blot on democracy. The Congress’ plan to derive political mileage by wooing TRS and YSRC has boomeranged.
— N Chandrababu Naidu,
TDP chief
It is a black day for the people of Andhra Pradesh. The Congress has lost control over its leaders and is not in a position to run a popular government.
— Bandaru Dattatreya,
BJP leader
Central rule had to be imposed as there was no alternative before the Centre. — M Kodandaram,
TJAC chairman