Jagan enlists Deve Gowda’s support

New Delhi, December 9, 2013: The support to YS Jagan
Mohan Reddy campaign for amending article 3 is getting wider and stronger with
every passing day as Janata Dal (S) leader and former Prime Minister HD Deve
Gowda firmly asserting that he stands for the amendment and will press for it
while YSRCP has expressed support to the no-confidence motion against UPA
Government for splitting the State moved six Congress MPs as the nation would see
the spectacle of revolt against Sonia Gandhi.

“YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has approached me and we
discussed the need to amend the article 3 to the effect that a state can be
split only after the assembly passes a resolution with a two-thirds majority
and both houses of Parliament ratify it with an identical majority. I am fully
in agreement with what Jagan has said and will work with Left Parties and my
allies in that direction,” HD Deve Gowda told reporters after meeting the YSRCP
delegation here on Monday.

The former Prime Minister said that he will speak
to his allies in Karnataka and Kerala and Left parties and think of moving an
adjournment motion to this effect. Describing the decision of splitting Andhra
Pradesh as “not a good decision at this juncture and it is for only political
considerations ,” he said Potti Sriramulu has sacrificed his life to create a
state for Telugu speaking people and dividing the state which has Telugu
speaking people is not proper.”

When asked about the no confidence motion moved by
YSRCP, he said that is totally a different issue. We have discussed the
amendment to Article 3 issue and are in total agreement with each other.

Later speaking to reporters YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
said,” yes we did move the no confidence motion and this is in support to the
six Congress MPs who moved a no trust motion against their own leadership. Let
the country see as to what is the injustice that is happening in Andhra
Pradesh.”

Six Congress MPs have expressed no confidence in
Sonia Gandhi leadership and we are supporting them by moving the no confidence
motion.

We met Deve Gowda and impressed upon him the need
to amend article 3 as any party in power with 272 MPs can split any state they
want according to their whims and fancies and this right needs to be curtailed.
 I have been approaching all political parties and telling them that if
they do not voice their concern at this stage and keep quiet, Andhra Pradesh
will set a bad precedent as this is the first time that a state is being
divided without taking assembly into confidence. If this is not stopped the
ball will keep rolling and the Centre will go for bigger gambles.

The exercise is only for the sake of votes and
seats as it is happening with general elections round the corner and
notification is due in another 80 days,” he said.

“The JD(S) leader has given a patient hearing and
expressed his solidarity with us and for the cause we are fighting for and said
that he will do whatever could possibly be done. We will not stop till we turn
the last stone as ours is a small party with 3 MPs and am seeking the support
of all leaders of national and regional parties,” YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said.

Even after the results of the four states, Congress
has not change its attitude and I appeal to floor leaders of all political
parties and social media to speak out against the injustice being meted out to
Andhra Pradesh.

The YSRCP delegation also met Samajwadi Party (SP)
leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and told him the developments in the State and the
need to amend article 3. Mulayam told the delegation that he always oppose
creation of smaller states for they stand as stumbling blocks to all round
development.