Full transcript:
Sir,
I and you, we were all Members of this House when this Bill was introduced. As far as our party is concerned, in this House I myself had opposed the division of Andhra Pradesh. Our party was opposed to division of Andhra Pradesh. We felt that division of Andhra Pradesh will open a Pandora’s Box. We were out of UPA by that time.
Sir, I am raising all these points because Venkaiah Naidu raised certain political points. Sir, we had opposed division that time. We do not think that the country should have more states. Whatever states are there, they should develop. That relates to separate package for Andhra Pradesh. They have got something out of the Revenue Deficit Grant but that is not enough. They are building a new capital on the banks of the Krishna River through the land pulling system.
Whether that is a fair system or not, I have my doubts. But they are acquiring lands from the poor farmers on the fertile Krishna River delta but that is their business. So, the Centre should give money for the new capital, also the Polavaram Project which has been declared a national project. There is a lot of problem in the Hyderabad Secretariat over division, in the High Court also, the division is not created. So, Andhra Pradesh Government is in difficulty. They are operating out of small offices, so the sooner they have a separate capital, separate offices, that would be easier.
Lastly, this is called the Legislative Council. They are increasing the number from 50 to 58. I may inform you, again, that in West Bengal we abolished the Legislative Council in 1969. I thought that after the State got divided, it would act according to democratic principles and abolish the Council just as we did in West Bengal. But, they have decided to continue with the Council and logically they should get 58 members. So we cannot object.
I am saying Sir, this is one country. It is not that I am from West Bengal and I cannot speak on Andhra and Telengana or Tamil Nadu. I was in Hyderabad recently, all I want to say that there should peaceful existence between the two States. India is an one country. The country is one, and with this I hope that the Andra Pradesh and Telengana will live together as brothers.