Lok Satta wants President to safeguard interests of all regions in AP

Lok Satta Party national President and MLA Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan would like President Pranab Mukherjee to protect the interests of all Telugu people and the three regions of Andhra Pradesh before recommending introduction of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill in Parliament.

Lok Satta has sought the Speaker’s permission to move a resolution to this effect in the Assembly under Rule 77.

Lok Satta has listed a number of steps the President, as the custodian of the Constitution and federalism, should take for a comprehensive and harmonious resolution of the Andhra Pradesh crisis, and for future peace, harmony and prosperity of all the three regions of Andhra Pradesh.

The resolution proposed by Lok Satta says,

“This House expresses grave reservations about the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill, 2013 for the following reasons:

1. The process of reorganization has not been initiated by the Andhra Pradesh Legislature, and is contrary to the federal spirit of the Constitution, past traditions, and established precedents and practices.

2. There has been no effort to arrive at a negotiated settlement among the elected representatives of the three regions – Rayalaseema, Telangana and Coastal Andhra.

3. The Bill does not address the consequences of partition, and does not contain measures that will address the fiscal imbalances, developmental needs and resource constraints in the successor States.”

The resolution proposed by Lok Satta suggests that the following measures be incorporated in the Bill:

1. The Rayalaseema region may be given recognition by law as a special category region, and the revenue deficits of the region are fully covered by central grants. Corporate income tax and excise duty exemptions on par with those in the Special Category States shall be extended to Rayalaseema.

2. The North Coastal region comprising the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam may be constituted into an autonomous regional council with adequate Central grants and resources for economic development.

3. Ramayapatnam major port may be built as a Central public sector undertaking to meet the infrastructural needs of the Krishna delta region.

4. All permissions and clearances pertaining to Polavaram multi-purpose project may be deemed to have been obtained from successor States and the submerged areas are included in residual Andhra Pradesh.

5. All the on-going Krishna surplus water based projects in Telangana and Rayalaseema regions may be deemed to have been approved by successor states, so that they cannot be stalled on account of any objections in future.

6. Constitutionally viable arrangements may be made to facilitate Greater Hyderabad being the common capital for ten years, and legal measures are incorporated to ensure economic security, safety and full enjoyment of all constitutional rights for all citizens irrespective of place of birth.

7. In respect of the educational and infrastructural projects listed in the Bill in all three regions of Andhra Pradesh, irrevocable commitments, specific time limits of three to five years, mandatory Central assistance, and expenditure to be incurred from the Consolidated Fund of India may be incorporated in the law.