Telangana Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Tuesday expressed concern over recent remarks made by Andhra Pradesh coalition leaders regarding the bifurcation of the state and the formation of Telangana.
In a letter to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu, Ponnam said such comments could escalate tensions between the people of the two states, who have been living like brothers.
While greeting Naidu on his 76th birthday, the Telangana minister urged him to rein in coalition partners from the BJP and Jana Sena Party, who have been making anti-Telangana remarks.
Recalling Naidu’s tenure as Chief Minister of the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh, Prabhakar said he should be aware of the long-standing aspirations and grievances of the people of Telangana, particularly concerning water, funds, and employment.
He emphasised that the formation of Telangana in 2014 was carried out constitutionally under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, with due parliamentary approval.
The minister noted that people from both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh continue to coexist harmoniously, contributing to mutual development and setting an example for other states.
However, he criticised recent statements by BJP leaders and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan, calling them inappropriate and potentially divisive.
He specifically referred to remarks by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya comparing the bifurcation to the India-Pakistan partition, terming them inflammatory.
Prabhakar also objected to comments suggesting that Telangana had hindered Andhra Pradesh’s progress, stating that such narratives hurt public sentiment.
He further attributed the controversy to earlier remarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and urged Naidu, as a senior political leader, to counsel coalition partners and prevent the escalation of tensions.
