It isn't the last Andhra Pr Formation Day celebrations: MPs

On the 57th Andhra Pradesh Formation Day, MPs opposing bifurcation say they still firmly believe that division of Andhra Pradesh would be avoided.
The elected representatives from Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions felt that the day marking the birth of Andhra Pradesh, carved out from the erstwhile Madras Presidency in 1956, was observed with usual spirit by people of Andhra Pradesh.
Congress MP Sai Prathap, representing Rajampet parliamentary constituency, said he visited an ancient temple at Ananthapur to pray for a United Andhra.
"I had visited a 1000-year-old Ranganathaswamy Temple in my native village and prayed that Andhra Pradesh should not split," he told PTI on the phone.

He lamented that people in Rayalaseema region were "very sad" over the decision of the Congress high command to divide the state.
"Anantapur, Kurnool, Cuddapah and Chittoor districts of Rayalaseema would be worst hit in the event of bifurcation," Prathap claimed. He too hailed from a backward region.

For many like Sabbam Hari, MP from Anakapalli Lok Sabha constituency, it is unthinkable that it could be the last Andhra Pradesh Formation Day to be celebrated in united Andhra Pradesh.
"People are under the impression that Andhra Pradesh would not be split and that was precisely why the celebrations were as usual in Seemandhra region," Sabbam Hari, elected from Anakapalli Lok Sabha constituency asserted.

Meanwhile, TDP MP Modugula Venugopala Reddy condemned Telangana Ministers for boycotting Andhra Pradesh Formation Day celebrations. "The state is still united and what respect due you have for the country?" Reddy questioned Telangana leaders, who did not participate in the celebrations.
On the other hand, Congress Lok Sabha member from Telangana region Ponnam Prabhakar backed the Telangana Ministers for keeping away from Andhra Pradesh Formation Day celebrations.
"Telangana Ministers are not participating in Andhra Pradesh Formation Day celebrations as we consider it as a Black Day. Moreover, the Ministers are not taking part in the celebrations for the last three years," he said.