The Government tried to reduce the vigour of protests by the Telugu Desam Party by ensuring the removal of its supremo Chandrababu Naidu from the Andhra Bhavan premises here on Friday.
The first meeting of the Group of Ministers on the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh started here with discussions on the approach and methodology to be adopted.
A host of Delhi Police personnel were present at venue while taking Naidu, who is on a hunger strike for the last five days, to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital here. The Police also foiled the efforts of the TDP cadre and leaders to stop Naidu’s removal.
An adamant Naidu, however, is continuing his protest. TDP leaders said that they “allowed” his removal considering his deteriorating health. “He will continue his hunger protest inside the hospital,” senior TDP leader Rammohan Rao said. The TDP is strengthening its protests as about 2,000 workers are expected to reach the Capital on Saturday.
The TDP also got the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies on the issue. The BJP appealed to Naidu and YSR Congress Party leader Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy to call off their fasts.
“We also appeal to all those who are engaged in agitations and protests or fasts in different parts of the State to immediately call off their agitations/protests/fasts so that normalcy is restored at the earliest,” BJP President Rajnath Singh said in a statement.
Singh said the creation of a new State requires a lot of political work, which requires political leadership of great acumen.
“The Congress Party, which is suffering from a leadership crisis within it, has not taken any step in this direction. Instead, it has left the situation to deteriorate. For any work on such critical matter as bifurcation, normalcy should prevail in the State,” he said.
GoM’s assurance
Meanwhile, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, after the GoM meeting, assured the people of Andhra Pradesh that their concerns would be addressed with fairness and objectivity.
“The GoM would take the opinion of stakeholders on all important subjects while formulating its recommendations,” a statement by the Government said.
Different nodal Ministries and Departments of the Centre will submit status reports to the GoM on the subjects in the Terms of Reference. The State Government would also be consulted in this process. The next meeting of the GoM will be held on October 19.