KCR threatens fast if Section 8 is invoked

Hyderabad: Telangana government is on warpath against the moves afoot for invoking Section 8 of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, which bestowed special powers on the Governor to have a control over the law and order in Hyderabad- the common capital of two Telugu States. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has alerted the Telangana Rashtra Samithi leaders and functionaries as well as other Telangana protagonist organisations to be prepared for yet another phase of fight to beat back the attempts to stripe the Telangana State government of its powers over maintenance of law and order.

He had reportedly hinted that he would not hesitate to go on an indefinite fast in New Delhi in this matter. The Chief Minister has made it categorically clear to such sections that there would not be any compromise over the self-pride of Telangana. He also sought the help of non-BJP State governments, national parties and other like-minded sections to fight the Centre, if it preferred to go ahead with implementation of section 8 in the State capital. He spoke to different chief ministers and leaders of political parties and sought their support over the issue. 

The Chief Minister



reportedly said that implementation of section 8 would be amounting to infringement of the rights of States and would be against the spirit of federalism. He was assured of their support by some of national parties and chief ministers. The government got alerted over the reports that the Governor was advised by Attorney General of India that Governor can use his powers to control law and order in the Common capital under section 8 of Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act. If needed the government would fight the issue even legally. 

Chief Minister met Governor ESL Narasimhan in the morning on Tuesday and discussed ramifications of invoking Section 8. He was understood to have been told that so far there was no such order from the Centre. The Chief Minister briefed the Governor on the progress in the cash for vote case. The ruling party has felt that there was a conspiracy behind the move for implementation of section 8 by Andhra Pradesh government led by N Chandrababu Naidu, who was tainted in cash-for-vote case. They said that the issue of implementation of section 8 has come to the fore without any justification just because of the conspiracy of Telugu Desam party.