Modi cautions people of AP over Telangana move ahead of LS polls

Writes open letter saying UPA betrayed people time and again, can't be trusted once again

Doubting intentions of Congress-led UPA government's fast-track move on separate state of Telengana, few months ahead of general elections, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday cautioned the people of Andhra Pradesh.

In an open letter to the people of Andhra Pradesh Modi said, "In the wake of the sequence of events, the Congress Party has done in the last few days what it shied away from doing in the last 9 years- to work overtime on a decision over Telangana. It is an undisputable fact that Congress Party has neither been consistent nor transparent in its conduct over the creation of a Telangana state."

"Congress party that won in 2004 on the promise of Telangana has played cynical games with the aspirations and sentiments of the people for nine long years. Now, at a time when there are only a few months left before the people of this country vote again, the Congress Party is rushing to announce Telangana. This raises serious concerns on the seriousness and intentions of the Congress," Modi stated in his letter.

"A party (Congress) and a Government (UPA) that has betrayed the people on the issue of Telangana time and again can hardly be trusted on this issue this time around," he cautioned.

Though Modi welcomed forward movement on Telangana, he questioned the intent of Congress and UPA government.

"It is indeed ironical that the Congress Party has sought to hide itself behind committees, reports and futile deliberations instead of courageously facing the people of Andhra Pradesh. Neither the Congress President nor the Congress Vice President have set foot into Andhra Pradesh in recent years, despite the fact that Andhra Pradesh sent the highest MPs for the Congress both in 2004 and 2009. Will the Congress leadership not apologize to the people of Andhra Pradesh for treating them like doormats to suit the Congress’ political opportunism?" Gujarat CM questioned.

He, however,  felt that this was an emotional moment as this was the first time a state formed on linguistic basis was being proposed to be divided.

"Even at this time as the state is being divided, to respect the popular sentiment, we bow our heads in respect to martyrs like the late Shri Potti Sreeramulu who sacrificed their lives for the creation of Andhra Pradesh. Inspired by their memory we commit ourselves to work for the progress of all Telugu people in each of these regions," assured Modi to the people of Andhra Pradesh.

Modi also raised several questions about the arrangements on Telangana as agreed upon by the Congress Working Committee and UPA members.