Modi blames Cong for dividing Andhra, says bifurcation was hasty

• HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times, Amaravati
 |  
• Updated: Oct 22, 2015 18:21 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing the Pooja rituals at the foundation stone laying ceremony of 'Amaravati'- the new capital of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday. (PTI)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the former Congress-led government carved Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh “in haste” due to “political selfishness” causing tension between the two states.

“For some people’s political selfishness, Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated in haste without properly carrying out the process of proper consultation. I can even today feel the pain of those innocents who lost their lives and suffered loss to property in this episode...,” Modi said after laying the foundation stone for Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh.

“The British left behind such things due to which there is tension in the country even today. The previous government did something that due to which everyday there is tension created,” he said as urban development minister M. Venkaiah Naidu translated it in Telugu.

“Whether it is Andhra or Telangana, our soul is Telugu. Both states are two arms of the Telugu soul, both states shall prosper,” he said.

Pointing out that three new states --- Uttarkhand, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh--- were create during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure without any conflict, Modi said, “There was no bloodshed, no bad feelings, I wish that for Andhra and Telangana too.”

The Prime Minister assured the people that Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act will be implemented in “letter and spirit” but did not announce a special category status for the state as urged by CM Naidu and the opposition parties.

“The previous government has done a lot of such things that a lot of time and energy of this government is going into undoing and setting them right. But I assure Centre’s support to both the states and the Government of India will always stand by and support you,” he said.

Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, will be built on farmland between the cities of Vijayawada and Guntur, on the banks of the river Krishna. It will take a decade to build, during which time, Hyderabad will be shared as capital by the two states.

Amaravati has served as a capital earlier in history, for the powerful Satavahanas between 2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE. It was also an important centre for Buddhist learning.

At the ‘shila nyas’, soil and water collected from holy rivers, temples and mosques throughout India and from other countries was scattered on the site as prayers and other rituals were performed.

Apart from Venkaiah Naidu, union Ministers Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Nirmala Sitaraman, AP and Telangana governor ESL Narasimhan and chief ministers of AP and Telangana N Chandrababu Naidu and K Chandrasekhar Rao, were among those present on the occasion.

The ceremony also saw a rare bonhomie between the chief ministers of both states. Naidu had personally invited Rao for the event, setting aside all bitterness, and the latter reciprocated by attending.