Divide AP into 5 states, says Rambabu

Dec. 8: In case the state had to be divided, it should be divided into three or five states, demanded the Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary, Mr Ambati Rambabu.
Talking to newsmen at the Guntur district Congress office, he said, “If the government had to succumb to fast-unto-death by Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, there are several people in different regions demanding separate states and they are ready for fast.”
Already there was a demand for separate Hyderabad state. Likewise, the people of north Andhra, Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra are demanding separate states, he added.
As the Telangana leaders were demanding separate state, leaders like Danam Nagender and Mukhesh Goud demanded separate Hyderabad state. Why the TRS activists attack their houses as they too expressed their individual opinions, he questioned.
The PCC secretary further alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party, which had resolved “one vote – two states” in its Kakinada plenary before 1999 general elections, ignored the election promise after taking the reins at centre and carved out three states and ignored Telangana. Now, it is shedding crocodile tears on Telangana, he alleged.
He also found fault of calling those who were staying in Hyderabad as ‘settlers’.
He also criticised Mr Harirama Jogaiah and Mr Vasanta Nageswara Rao for stating that they would launch Jai Andhra movement. He reminded that the people of Andhra suffered a lot in 1972 due to the movement.
He urged the TRS leaders not to incite the sentiments and emotions of the people and take up agitation in a peaceful manner. Their activists should shun activities like defacing the leaders from Andhra like Gauthu Lachanna, Potti Sriramulu and Kasu Brahmananda Reddy, erasing the name of “Andhra” wherever it

Vijayawada, Dec. 7: Revival of Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy (Durga temple) Trust Board is the need of the hour as the temple needs the services of the board chairman and panel members to coordinate developmental works with officials as well as to conduct festivals like Dasara.

The Durga temple is the second largest and richest temple in the state after the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.

The Congress government scrapped the trust board two years ago after a stampede during the Bhavani Deekshas relinquishment programme on Indrakeeladri. The temple conducts Dasara and Bhavani Deekshas relinquishment every year, which attracts lakhs of pilgrims.
In the absence of a trust board, the endowments officials are taking important decisions related to conducting festivals and new developmental works. With frequent transfers of officials and poor supervision of works, many developmental works are getting delayed.

Besides, officials failed to provide amenities to devotees particularly during festivals. Government, for the last one-and-a-half years, has appointed festival committees. This year, it did not do so.

Peoples’ representatives say that the revival of the trust board would increase the accountability on staff. The endowments department has taken up developmental works worth Rs 100 crore during the last few years, which include construction of a Rajagopuram, Mallikarjuna Maha Mandapam, dormitories, old age home, naturopathy hospital, Veda School and ghat road widening works.

The Congress and Arya Vysya leaders are intensely lobbying for chairman and members' posts.

The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, will visit the city on December 19 to inaugurate some of the developmental works. Local aspirants will submit a representation to the Chief Minister to immediately revive the Trust Board and appoint members