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  India   Kiran Kumar Reddy: No quiting now

Kiran Kumar Reddy: No quiting now

Published : Oct 8, 2013, 2:00 pm IST
Updated : Oct 8, 2013, 2:00 pm IST

Hyderabad: Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday made it clear that he would stay on to fight to keep the state unified. Denying speculations that he has tendered his resignation or would be

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 N. Kiran Kumar Reddy_14_1_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_1_0_0_0_0_0_0.jpg

Hyderabad: Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday made it clear that he would stay on to fight to keep the state unified. Denying speculations that he has tendered his resignation or would be stepping down in the event of the Centre readying the Telangana Bill, Reddy said that he would take a decision on whether to continue or not once the state Assembly debated the Telangana measure. CM to stay in post for United AP Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday made it clear that he would stay on in his post to fight for a united Andhra Pradesh. Denying speculations that he has already tendered his resignation or will be stepping down in the event of the Union government readying the Telangana Bill, Reddy said that he would take a decision on whether to continue or not once the state Assembly debated either on the Telangana resolution or the Telangana Bill that was to come. Speaking to a group of mediapersons on Monday, the Chief Minister said, “I will not give up (the post) now; that is not going to help the united AP cause, I wish the issue should be debated in Assembly first so that people’s representatives can decide whether a united AP will benefit them or whether the division of the state is good for them. Only then I can take a call.” “My chair is a very small sacrifice compared to the people’s agitation and people’s future. My chair is not important, I am not permanent in this chair,” Reddy added. While agreeing that there was a sentiment in Telangana for a separate state, he said, “The Telangana sentiment and their problems can be better addressed if the state remains united.” The Chief Minister had earlier said that formation of a Telangana state would not help the Telangana region due to the many problems it was facing, and the only solution to all the problems of all the regions would be to keep the state united. He also reiterated his earlier observation that division of the state would lead to more problems. “In order to solve one problem, we should not create more and more problems,” he said, adding that he was not at all worried about his political future or his post, but was more concerned about the future of the state and the people. “People may think that I am only championing the Seemandhra cause, it is not true, I am for a united AP keeping the interests of all the three regions including Telangana,” he said. Reddy was also critical about Hyderabad being retained with Telangana after the bifurcation. “After Independence, no where has a state been divided with the capital. Hyderabad is the centre for the IT Industry, it has the best medical care and is also an educational hub, people of all the three regions are concerned about these issues, that is why I have been saying that these concerns should be addressed first before going for division,” he said. Reddy added that he was still confidant of convincing the Congress high command and the Union government regarding the bifurcation decision and said that he was of the view that the division of the state should not be taken on political grounds that too certainly not before the elections. Admitting that there was large-scale anger among people against the division, he said, “Yes, there is anger against the division and against the party. Once such a big decision is taken, we will have to take all the stake holders’ problems into consideration and find solutions for them.” Replying to a question, he said that Constitutionally it was not possible for the Centre to bypass the state Assembly to express its opinion on bifurcation. Next: Sonia upset with CM Sonia upset with CM Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday said that the Centre would take care of the concerns of all regions regarding river waters, power, medical and education issues in the event of bifurcation of the state. He added that the Centre, at this stage, would not go back on the decision to bifurcate AP, but assured that justice would be done to all. In this backdrop, the Union Cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday morning fuelled further speculations that the Centre intended to impose President’s Rule in the state. The Centre is also aware of the adamant attitude of the CM who is regularly issuing statements that the decision of the Centre to divide the state was a big mistake. Sources said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi is upset with the CM for working with an intention to embarrass the Congress and the Centre. The Congress Core Committee might also meet on Tuesday to take stock of the situation. It could not be confirmed whether the GoM had its first meet on Monday under Chidambaram’s chairmanship. The finance minister and the PM are scheduled to go to abroad on Tuesday and “the Cabinet meeting scheduled on Thursday was brought forward to Tuesday due to this”, said a source.