Jagan gets Deve Gowda support

Press Release

New Delhi, Dec 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.