Jagan seeks Pawar support for unified AP

Mumbai, Nov 25, 2013:  YSR Congress chief Sri YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday  met  the NCP President and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena leader Uddav Thackeray here to muster support for the cause of united Andhra Pradesh.

He convinced the Maratha leaders on the need to amend Article 3  to prevent its misuse by political parties in power at the Centre.

Sharad Pawar later said that  Sri Jagan Mohan Reddy had raised the issue of the Centre going ahead with the bifurcation of AP without taking the state assembly into consideration."He also stressed on the need to amend Article 3 to prevent its misuse. I would place these issues before the Working Committee of NCP for consideration. In a democracy, the views of the legislators must be respected," Pawar stated, adding that Jagan had sought NCP cooperation for keeping Andhra Pradesh united. "But we have taken a stand on Telangana some nine years back," he recalled.

Sri Jagan Mohan Reddy had pointed out the anomalies that have crept in the division process stating that the consent of the concerned assembly is a must before dividing any state, Pawar said and added:."The YSRCP leader told me that if the Centre goes ahead without taking the assembly  into confidence, it will be a wrong precedent. The second issue he has raised is about the article 3 and need to review it. We did not give any opinion on these two vital issues but we will discuss them in our Working Committee and will have a serious discussion".

There was no discussion of electoral tie-ups and the only issue we discussed was about the division of Andhra Pradesh, Pawar said.

On his one-day tour to the commercial capital of the country, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy first met Sharad Pawar and had put forth YSRCP stand stressing the need to amend article 3.  

Later, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy told media persons that he had stressed on the need to amend article 3 as people of the stature of Sharad Pawar should not be silent when injustice is being meted in the name of division of the state as such undemocratic practice would not stop with Andhra Pradesh division.

"Such an undemocratic division is happening for the first time in the country for political reasons. I have sought the support of Uddhav bhai and if Andhra Pradesh is divided in this manner, it will create a bad precedent. I am thankful to Uddhavji for extending his support for the cause our party is fighting." he said. 

When asked about the strategy in the Parliament, he said: “Number wise, we are only three and we are trying to gain support from all national parties against the division of the state and to amend article 3."

Uddhav Thackeray opposes AP bifurcation

Uddhav Thackeray, on the other hand, said that his Party is against the division of the Andhra Pradesh. :"Article 3 should not be misused and the state assembly should be taken into confidence before bifurcating the any state. A resolution should be adopted in the concerned state before sending it to Parliament," he remarked.

Uddhav Thackeray, who expressed solidarity with YSRCP, had flayed Congress for its divisive and authoritarian politics. “We are opposed to division of Andhra Pradesh as we are opposed to Vidarbha. As Sri Jagan Mohan Reddy has said there is every need to amend article 3 as it could be misused. Assembly should adopt a resolution before tabling the Bill in Parliament to divide any state. In Andhra Pradesh, Congress is using the divide and rule policy of the British. We will oppose Telangana Bill when it comes to parliament." he had asserted.

Naveen Patnaik extends support

Sri Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP delegation also called on Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik yesterday in Bhuvaneswar and sought support in his fight to keep AP unified.

Naveen Patnaik later said he agreed with the view of YSRCP Chief that division of any state must be done only after the concerned assembly passes a resolution. “I am against the division of Andhra Pradesh,” he told reporters.

 Cyclone: YS jagan Mohan Reddy has apprised the Union Agriculture Minister about the extent of damage the cyclone has created in Andhra Pradesh and another storm is brewing. Pawar has assured all help to the State and said that the matter would be taken seriously.