Act, because Sonia is no Indira Mr Reddy

On October 26, opening a revolt against Congress leadership for its decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy had urged the president and the prime minister to intervene. It was only after he had accused the Centre of trivialising the state bifurcation process by taking “shortcut routes” without doing any “homework” a day before.

His statement had come at a time when the cabinet was intensifying its efforts to work out the modalities for bifurcation. He had pointed out that the process to create Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand was initiated only after assemblies of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh passed unanimous resolutions. But in the case of Andhra Pradesh,descions were being taken hastily.

The chief minister on Thursday said that the credit for keeping the state united goes to late prime minister Indira Gandhi. Paying tributes to Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary, the chief minister said she was the driving force behind the development of Andhra Pradesh.

“She controlled separate agitations of Telangana and Jai Andhra to keep the state united for the overall development and welfare,” said Kiran Kumar Reddy while paying tributes to her in Visakhapatnam.

“What I am mentioning, (Article) 371-D or the problems that would arise if the state is divided are only the words of then prime minister Indira Gandhi in Parliament Dec 21, 1972,” a statement released by the Chief Minister’s Office here quoted him as saying.

“I have only reiterated what she said. I have not said anything wrong,” Kiran Reddy clarified in an obvious reference to criticism from Telangana leaders that he is defying the Congress leadership over its decision to carve a separate Telangana state.

He said Indira Gandhi never compromised on development of the state or keeping it united.

It is interesting to note that Reddy has always been public about his opposition to Andhra bifurcation. Despite his constant meetings and appraisals to the party leadership about the bad condition in Telangana and Seemandhra regions, he was given no attention.

The need of the hour for the chief minister is to take note of the complete situation and act on his own if he is so concerned about the state he rules and its people. He must be aware that Sonia is no Indira. Then why use all words when we all know actions speak louder?