Andhra Pradesh CM Kiran Reddy fears water wars

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday warned of water wars among farmers of three regions if the Centre proceeded with the state's division. Maintaining that water management for existing as well as future irrigation systems would become extremely difficult post division, the CM said a situation wherein one state had to depend on the government of another state for release of water from the reservoirs would spell doom for crores of farmers. Water management will get worse: CM Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad, the Chief Minister said water management would be smooth during a good monsoon, but problems would arise if it failed. “We see farmers fighting on the borders of Kurnool and Mahbubnagar for Krishna waters and the situation would be worse in other parts of the state too,” he said. The Chief Minister’s latest salvo gained significance in view of farmers in coastal districts who have been busy with the Kharif crop and have not been actively participating in the ongoing agitation, completing their activity within a few days and finding time to think about what the Chief Minister described as highly volatile situation. Reddy sought to dispel the allegations that he was pursuing his own political interests by raising the demand for a united state. “I am already Chief Minister. What more can I become by floating a new party. At best, I will again become Chief Minister,” he said. Turning emotional, the Chief Minister said that his father (former minister Amarnath Reddy) had stood for a united state when the “Jai Andhra” agitation was at its peak, and like a true son, he had been merely following in his father’s footsteps. “The media and political parties were concerned about my political career while I am concerned about the future of the people,” he added. The Chief Minister drove home the point that while the Telugu Desam or the YSR Congress were indulging in petty politics to capture power, he had been raising his voice against the party’s decision to divide the state even if it cost him the Chief Minister’s post. Kiran Kumar Reddy also took potshots at AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh who tried to rein in the former with the statement that he was Chief Minister of all the three regions. “I should be grateful to him for reminding me every time of my position as Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh. This helps me work with more resolve to keep the state united,” he said. Though the Chief Minister at one stage said he would remain in the Congress forever, he made a contrary statement in another context. He said he was only worried about facing a situation wherein he had to choose between the Congress and a united Andhra Pradesh. “The situation is similar to that of a child who has been asked to spell out whom he likes most between father and mother,” he said. The Chief Minister also took his archrival N. Chandrababu Naidu to task, saying that he never craved for power like the TD chief. “I did not understand what he has been saying for the past 60 days. I am sure the people of the state are also facing a similar dilemma,” he said.