Kiran Kumar Reddy said he will not sit in the chief minister's chair and oversee the division of Andhra Pradesh.
Kiran Kumar Reddy said he will not sit in the chief minister's chair and oversee the division of Andhra Pradesh. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, an emotional Kiran Kumar Reddy said he is keeping his options open.
"I was born here, I studied here, and worked in Hyderabad my whole life, but my native place is elsewhere. After 53 years, you can't say, you don't belong here. And it is not just about me. There are people from Seemandhra not just in Hyderabad, but in all districts of Telangana,'' Mr Reddy said. (
Highlights of interview)
The anger over bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh has spilled to the streets where protests against the move are being led by employees, students and others for over two months now. "There is anger against division, against party, and against us," Mr Reddy said.
Government-run public transport bus services have been off the road for several weeks now. The strike by over 30,000 power sector employees over the last three days has pushed the 13 districts of Seemandhra into darkness. ATMs, petrol pumps, train, cell phone, and several other services have been affected. Doctors in hospitals pointed out that they have been forced to postpone major surgeries.
The chief minister, conceding that protests are affecting life in the region, appealed to the striking employees to return to work. "What is the point? Who is going to be affected because of the strike? Our own people will suffer. Critical and essential services should not be affected,'' he said.