A Perspective on Vizag
Meet organized on the backdrop of appointment of Srikrishna Committee
Visakha City, March 7, 2010
The need for scientific approach for collection and analysis of data for planning and development with focus on common man was stressed by the speakers at a meeting on ‘Issues of Concern and Conflicts in Andhra Pradesh’ organized by the Forum of Action, Research and Policy Analysis (FAPRA) on Sunday. Manipulation of data for a political cause should be avoided, the speakers said. In the backdrop of appointment of Srikrishna Committee, the FAPRA had organized this meet to ensure that a rational, scientific decision making process is initiated towards improving the quality of life of common person in the entire State. It supports neither break up nor status quo of the State. GL Rao, who worked for the United Nations Organization for several years, explained the strict rules followed for accepting data and asserted that political statements made on manipulated data would e disastrous. He referred to the charge atmosphere in the State and said that decisions taken in such backdrop lack objectivity.
Niroop, an advocate of Supreme Court and protagonist of smaller states, while asserting that regionalism was the sheet anchor of nationalism and internationalism, wanted scientific approach for reorganization of States. So far, India had no rational commission for reorganization of States, Niroop said. Federalism should be strengthened to ensure that the country would not break. Chandu Subba Rao, a retired professor of ‘enoromous political stupidity’ and described the Srikrishna Committee as an escapist step.
The country was being haunted by diverse forces for the last sixty years and the present UPA government could not solve it because it was a minority Government depending on the MOS from Andhra Pradesh who were vertically divided. K Haribabu of BJP and Ch Narasinga Rao of CPI (M) more or less repeated the know stands of their respective parties and the former said that the Committee was appointed to keep the issue in cold storage. Siva Sankar of Uttar Andhra Rakshana Vedika recalled the injustice to which the North Andhra was subjected.