Cong: No plan for President’s Rule

The Congress party is non-committal on the possibility of imposition of President’s Rule in Andhra Pradesh in view of the violent protests against the proposed bifurcation of the state, especially in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. Responding to questions on whether Andhra Pradesh is heading for President’s Rule due to the deteriorating law and order situation, AICC spokesman Bhakt Charan Das on Monday said, “Aisa samay nahi, jab ayega to sochenge (Such a time has not come, we will think about it when the situation arises).” If Congress insiders are to be believed, such a possibility cannot be ruled out completely. The government cannot allow the violence to go on, and imposition of President’s Rule could help the government pass a resolution on a separate Telangana state in Parliament. A senior Congress leader, who declined to be identified, suggested there could be no other alternative but Central Rule if the situation worsened in Andhra Pradesh. But the Congress’ stated position on this issue is to go ahead, ignoring the strong statements of its leaders outside Telangana. Meanwhile, Mr Bhakt Charan Das criticised the Telugu Desam Party and YSR Congress for changing their stand conveniently. He accused YSR Congress leader Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy and TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu of playing politics on the issue by opposing a separate Telangana now after coming out in unqualified support of it earlier. The refrain of the Congress spokesman was that the opposition by Mr Jaganmohan and Mr Naidu was an “afterthought” as the two parties had been on board on the decision to carve out a separate Telangana. He also read out the letters and resolutions of the two parties in favour of a Telangana state. “There was no agitation (against Telangana). There has not been resentment in the past. This is all afterthought, all political,” he said, seeking to expose the two Andhra parties. Mr Das skirted questions on the fate of chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, his controversial statements and as to how he could continue as CM when he was against bifurcation of the state. He said it was an internal matter and party leaders would look into it.