BJP fights for Seemandhra

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Dec 21, 2013: In a bid to change its pro-Telangana image and increase political prospects in Seemandhra, the BJP leaders from the region have vowed to mount pressure on the party central leadership to demand justice to the region, when the AP Reorganisation Bill comes for discussion in the Parliament.

Expressing displeasure at the raw deal meted out to Seemandhra region without any time-bound committed assurances in the Bill, BJP national disciplinary committee member Kambhampati Haribabu hoped that the party leadership would definitely fight for the rightful share of Seemandhra, in the event of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Terming the assurances given to Seemandhra in the Bill as ‘hollow promises’, Haribabu, speaking to mediapersons here on Thursday, came down heavily on Jairam Ramesh, a member of the GoM appointed by the union cabinet to look into the bifurcation process, for allegedly acting in favour of Telanagana on construction of Polvaram project.

“Ramesh had openly said that he is against the Polavaram project. And instead of including Polvaram as multi-purpose project in the Bill, it was termed as just any ordinary irrigation project. There is no firm assurance how the Centre would fund the project. The Bill also says that the project can be taken up with the consultation of both the states. How can we expect that the Telangana government would support construction of Polavaram, when everyone in that region is opposing it.”

Haribabu said Polavaram project can be a reality only if Bhadhrachalam division, some parts of which fall in the submergence area of Polavaram, can be given back to Seemandhra.

He reminded that until 1959, from 1840, Bhadhrachalam was part of EG district and that it was made part of Khammam, only for the administrative convenience, three years after Andhra Pradesh was formed.

The BJP on Friday staged demonstrations and protests across Viziangaram and Vizag, demanding justice to the region in the event of the bifurcation of the state. Party cadres in large numbers took part in the protests, burnt copies of AP Reorganisation Bill and effigies of Union rural development minister, Jairam Ramesh for ignoring the interests of the Seemandhra people.

Issues raked up by them include, the multi-purpose Polavaram project, addition of Bhadrachalam division to Seemandhra, Hyderabad revenue sharing and development of infrastructure and institutes of excellence. The Polavaram project was initially envisaged as a multi-purpose project covering power, irrigation and drinking water but now they claim, the Congress has reduced it to a mere irrigation project.

“Being a member of the GoM, Jairam Ramesh should be neutral but he is acting in favour of Telangana,” said BJP national disciplinary committee, member, K. Haribabu. The BJP activists gathered in large numbers at the Mahatma Gandhi statue opposite to GVMC office and raised slogans against Jairam Ramesh.

They demanded the Centre announce time bound committed assurances on the financial package for the development of Seemandhra and its capital. They also demanded inclusion of Bhadrachalam division into residuary state for the completion of Polavaram project.