AP Formation Day as scheduled: CM

The state government has decided to go ahead with the celebration of the Andhra Pradesh Formation Day on November 1, as scheduled. 

Emphasising on this point, Chief Minister K Rosaiah told media persons at the Secretariat that the government would conduct the Formation Day function as usual even if any hurdles were created by those opposing it.

The Chief Minister also categorically stated that there was no compulsion for anyone to participate in the AP Formation Day celebrations.

Mr Rosaiah said that the ultimatum by Telangana activists to Ministers from Telangana not to participate in the celebrations was redundant since the Ministers would participate only if they were interested to do so.

Reacting to the demands that the State Formation Day celebrations be cancelled, the Chief Minister advised the Telangana activists to rethink on their decision to disrupt the celebrations.

He said that the Formation Day celebrations have been conducted since the year the state was formed on November 1 in 1956. Mr Rosaiah reminded the Telangana protagonists that the state was still united. He added that if the partition of the state was inevitable, then the people should part as friend.

Mr Rosaiah reminded the people that the Srikrishna Committee will submit its report on the future of the state to the Centre. Till such time, there was no need to create divisions among the people of the state and drive a wedge between the ‘brothers’.

The Chief Minister also vowed that he would abide by the decision of the Centre on the Telangana statehood, whatever the decision may be.

Mr Rosaiah also indirectly stated that the Joint Committee of Assembly and Legislative Council on the Telangana issue has become redundant after the setting up of the Srikrishna Committee.

The Chief Minister also stated that there was no need for him to lead an all-party delegation on the Hyderabad Free Zone issue since the Assembly had passed a resolution on the issue and had sent it to the Centre.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao had earlier demanded the all-party delegation.

Mr Rosaiah put the ball over the Free Zone issue back in KCR’s court by saying that the TRS chief could well take the initiative on the issue since he was an MP.

The Chief Minister stated that he was deeply bothered hurt by the poster at Palakollu which superimposed his picture with that of Lord Balaji. He said that, “anyone who likes me, the common man and an ardent devotee of Lord Venkateshwara should not have done such a thing.”