Kolkata:
YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy today met Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata and sought her support in his campaign against the division of Andhra Pradesh for a separate Telangana state.
The West Bengal Chief Minister, who has been fighting off demands for a new state of Gorkhaland, has fully backed his stand.
"Five years ago, the Congress had said in its manifesto that they would form Telengana. Why didn't they do it in the last five years?" Mr Banerjee said, adding, "Before elections, if you bulldoze, if you put pressure, it is not correct. If you do something just before elections, there is a political motive. To divide a state for political motive is not correct."
The focus of their conversation was expected to be Ms Banerjee's proposed 'federal front'. But both the leaders confirmed that the Telengana row was their priority.
"We had approached Didi (Mamata Banerjee) for help in ensuring that in Parliament the bifurcation bill is stopped," said Jagan Reddy.
"We want an amendment that will make an assembly resolution mandatory for such decisions. If 2/3rd of the assembly and Parliament support the division, only then the state should be split. Otherwise, no government in Delhi should be given the power to arbitrarily split the state on their whims and fancies," said the 40-year-old YSR Congress chief.
Mamata Banerjee agreed, "Our support is there. We are for unity. We are for united India. Our support will be there."
Jagan Reddy has been traveling across the country in his attempt to evolve a broad political consensus against Telangana. He is also expected to meet Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav.
The West Bengal Chief Minister, who has been fighting off demands for a new state of Gorkhaland, has fully backed his stand.
"Five years ago, the Congress had said in its manifesto that they would form Telengana. Why didn't they do it in the last five years?" Mr Banerjee said, adding, "Before elections, if you bulldoze, if you put pressure, it is not correct. If you do something just before elections, there is a political motive. To divide a state for political motive is not correct."
The focus of their conversation was expected to be Ms Banerjee's proposed 'federal front'. But both the leaders confirmed that the Telengana row was their priority.
"We had approached Didi (Mamata Banerjee) for help in ensuring that in Parliament the bifurcation bill is stopped," said Jagan Reddy.
"We want an amendment that will make an assembly resolution mandatory for such decisions. If 2/3rd of the assembly and Parliament support the division, only then the state should be split. Otherwise, no government in Delhi should be given the power to arbitrarily split the state on their whims and fancies," said the 40-year-old YSR Congress chief.
Mamata Banerjee agreed, "Our support is there. We are for unity. We are for united India. Our support will be there."
Jagan Reddy has been traveling across the country in his attempt to evolve a broad political consensus against Telangana. He is also expected to meet Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav.
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