Take AP Legislature consent on bifurcation: Lok Satta

Lok Satta Party has requested President Pranab Mukherjee to ensure that Andhra Pradesh Legislature's consent is obtained before a Bill is introduced in Parliament for bifurcation of the state.
The request has been made by Lok Satta President and MLA Jayaprakash Narayan in a letter to Mukherjee.
Narayan said dividing the state without taking the Legislature's views would pose a grave danger to federalism and unity of the country.
"The determined efforts of the Union Government and its oft-repeated declarations that Andhra Pradesh will be divided irrespective of the State Legislature's views pose a grave danger to federalism and unity of India", a Lok Satta release quoted him as saying in the letter of October 30 but released today.

"As the President, you are not only the head of the Republic, but also a part of Parliament. Elected by members of Parliament as well as state Assemblies, you represent both our Union and the states, and you are the final defender of the Constitution and federalism along with the Supreme Court.
"This is, therefore, a fit case where the President should exercise his constitutional duty independently before recommending introduction of any Bill to divide the state of Andhra Pradesh," the bureaucrat-turned-politician said.
Narayan recalled that Andhra Pradesh was formed with prior consent of the Legislatures of then Andhra and Hyderabad states.

"Several states have been formed after 1950, but this is the first occasion when a major state is sought to be divided without the consent of its Legislature or a negotiated settlement among the stake-holders and in the face of fierce opposition from vast sections of the public," the Lok Satta chief said.