Telangana approval is an attempt to woo voters: Jagan Reddy

YSR Congress Party chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy on Thursday accused the Union Government of trying to woo voters by approving the formation of Telangana, and demanded the resignation of cabinet members who have ignored and betrayed the state of Andhra Pradesh.

"Never in the past have we seen a situation where the Union Government has taken such unilateral decision to woo voters. Infact the whole process of having a national assembly has been ridiculed. This is very unfortunate for us. We demand the Cabinet members who has ignored and betrayed state of Andhra Pradesh to resign immediately,' he told media here today.

He further said that his party has called for a 72-hour shutdown to protest against this division.

Reddy also demanded the resignation of all the 25 MP's and requested the Speaker to accept their resignations.

"This entire cabinet should immediately resign so as to create an emergency situation in the state so that at least this comes to a standstill," he added.

Earlier this evening, the Union Cabinet approved the formation of Telangana from the existing state of Andhra Pradesh and that Hyderabad would be the joint capital for the next ten years.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde who read out the Cabinet statement in the national capital said that a Group of Ministers (GoM) would be constituted to look into various issues between the two states.

He also said that the GoM would work towards ensuring the safety and security of the residents in all the three regions of Coastal Andhra, Rayalseema and Telangana, including the guarantee of their fundamental rights.

Shinde also said that the Group of Ministers would also look at the financial assistance for the state of Andhra Pradesh after the creation of Telangana, and to meet the special needs of the backward region and the district.

The Cabinet resolution would be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee with the recommendation that he refers it to the Andhra Pradesh state legislature.

Ahead of the Cabinet meeting today evening, protestors opposed to the bifurcation of the state, demonstrated near the Prime Minister's residence.