Seemandhra ministers differ on T

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Dec 24, 2013:  Differences among Seemandhra ministers over the AP Reorganisation Bill came to the fore in Vizag. Minor irrigation minister, TG Venkatesh, a strong votary of Samaikyandhra and health minister Kondru Murali who has softened his stance on Samaikyandhra, expressed divergent views on the Bill while addressing media persons at a programme organised here on Tuesday. Ministers Yerasu Pratap Reddy, and Ganta Srinivasa Rao also participated in the programme. The ministers laid foundation stone for a farmers training centre in the city.

While Venkatesh found fault with the Bill stating there was nothing in it that would help the development of the region, Murali hoped that Seemandhra region would prosper after the division, given the proposals in the Bill.

Venkatesh reiterated the need to delay the discussion on the Bill in the state assembly to stop the state bifurcation. “We will stop the Bill, which is against the aspirations and sentiments of the Seemandhra public. If the Bill is passed in the Parliament Seemandhra will be at loss. To stop the Bill from being passed public should go to Delhi and besiege Parliament. If the discussion on the Bill is taken up a wrong message will go to public that Seemandhra ministers, MLAs have accepted to the bifurcation. Everyone should come forward irrespective of political parties to stop the Bill at every stage,” said Venkatesh.

Murali said that Seemandhra would be benefited, if  the proposals by the GoM in the Bill be implemented. “Am confident that Seemandhra will  benefit with the 8 proposals made by the GoM in the Bill. A new railway zone, IIT will come up in the region,” he said and added that he will continue in Congress party even if the state is divided. Murali exuded confidence of Congress winning maximum seats in Seemandhra too even after state bifurcation.

Meanwhile, law minister, Yerasau Pratap Reddy, who also spoke to reporters, said that they would strive to stop bifurcation of the state.