(Image source from: Jagan defends his anti-bifurcation stand})

As Jagan Mohan Reddy sits on an indefinite fast to protest against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, he assures the people of Telangana that progress in the region is possible even without creation of a new state.

Talking about his new fight against the Center, pleading them to roll back the bifurcation decision, Jagan said, "We have to fight till every option is exhausted. The most important thing is, if an ordinance can be pulled back by (Congress veep) Rahul Gandhi, why can't the decision on state bifurcation, which is just at Cabinet note stage, be withdrawn. We are asking the floor leaders (of various political parties) in Parliament to support us."

"Anybody who respects democracy have to keep in mind that never in this country was a separate state carved out without a resolution being passed in the assembly."

"In this case, democracy has been overruled just for the sake of votes. There are genuine problems and 60% of the state is agitating on the roads. The reason is so strong that it has paralysed the state for 65 days. The problems include water, education and jobs. Over 50% of the state's revenues come from Hyderabad. How will you pay the salaries and have money to run the welfare schemes if you don't get those revenues from Hyderabad?," he said.

Justifying his change in stand for Telangana, he further said, "We didn't change our stand. What our leaders — KK Mahender Reddy and Mysoora Reddy — told the home ministry is that the party wanted a solution that does not do injustice to anyone and is acceptable to all. When 60% of the state is agitating on the roads that injustice is being done to them, can someone say they did (the state bifurcation) without injustice to anyone?"

AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury