Kiran Reddy asks centre to respect 'people's will'

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy Thursday asked the central government to respect the will of the people of the state, which he claimed, is reflected in the resolution passed in the legislature rejecting the state reorganization bill.

The chief minister said resolutions passed in assembly and council indicated that people of Andhra Pradesh stand for a united state.

The resolutions passed by voice vote in both the houses request the president not to forward Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 to Parliament.

Kiran Reddy told CNN-IBN channel that no state in the country was divided once the resolution for bifurcation was rejected by the concerned legislature.

"There is a peculiar situation in Andhra Pradesh. The legislature has not passed any resolution. There is no recommendation from any state reorganization commission, joint parliamentary committee or a judicial commission," he said.

Stating that the pride of Telugu people can't be decided in Delhi, he vowed to protect the state at any cost. "States can't be formed unilaterally by the centre," he added.

Kiran Reddy reiterated that if the bill was passed in the same form in parliament, he would quit politics. Stating that quitting politics does not mean forming new party, he said the future of people was important for him than his future.

The chief minister said he and other leaders were busy chalking out their future course of action.