Seemandhra leaders to meet PM

HYDERABAD: In an attempt to strike a pre-emptive blow, Samaikya Andhra leaders have decided to bring pressure on the Centre to see that the state remains united.With the Congress Telangana leaders bringing pressure on the party leadership with threats of an action plan from July 1, the Samaikya Andhra leaders do not want to leave anything to chance and decided to stall attempts to divide the state.After an informal meeting, primary education minister S Sailajanath, who hails from Anantapur district, and minor irrigation minister TG Venkatesh (Kurnool), said they have sought an appointment with the Prime Minister on either July 5 or 6.The leaders said a delegation from Seema-Andhra region which will include ministers, MPs and MLAs would meet the Prime Minister and other important leaders of the party at Delhi and make it clear to them that as people in two-thirds of the state are in favour of an integrated state, the Centre should abandon bifurcation proposal, if any, and that it should not yield to the pressure of either the Telangana Congress leaders or the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS).Says Sailajanath, who represents the Seemandhra leaders: “We have made a representation to the Srikrishna Committee that the state should remain united in the interests of the people of all regions. We have made representation to the Centre on several occasions to this effect. We will not agree to bifurcation of the state.” Venkatesh said it was necessary that the leaders and people of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions should act before it is too late in the wake of the pressure being exerted by the TRS on the Centre for an announcement on a Telangana state.Law minister Erasu Pratap Reddy, while stressing that the state should remain united, said he would abide by the Centre’s decision on the issue.