Modi accuses Cong of stirring tension between AP, Telangana

In a blistering attack on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today accused it of creating tension between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana by "spreading poison" and instigating youth after having taken the "hasty" decision to split Andhra. "They are spreading poison. They are trying to spread illusion. From Amaravati, this cultural centre, I would like to assure the people of Andhra that the Centre would implement whatever is said in the (Andhra Pradesh) Re-organisation Act in letter and spirit within the sipulated timeframe," he said after laying the foundation stone for Andhra's capital city Amaravati at Uddandarayunipalem village on the banks of river Krishna in Guntur district. "For some people's political selfishness, Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated in haste without properly carrying out the process of proper consultation. I can even today feel the pain of those innocents who lost their lives and suffered loss to property in this episode. "The British left behind such things due to which there is tension in the country even today. The previous government did something that due to which everyday there is tension created," he said. Modi accused the previous Congress-led UPA government of trying to sow the seeds of permanent problem between the two states and urged the people to move forward in the "true spirit and soul of Telugu". "Those people who while bifurcating Andhra and Telangana have attempted to sow the seeds of a permanent problem, they are even today adding fertilizer to create poison, create illusion and are trying to play with the emotions of the youth," he warned. In contrast, Modi said three new states --- Uttarkhand, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh---were created during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure and there has been no problem. Belying expectations that he would announce a special package for AP on the occasion of its capital foundation laying ceremony, Modi just said the Centre would stand "shoulder to shoulder" with Andhra Pradesh in its march for the state's progress. Pressing for special category status to Andhra Pradesh, besides implentation of other promises made to the state, Congress and other parties had held several protests like filing "police cases" against Modi, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and others for allegedly "deceiving "the people. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had written to Modi a few days ago demanding that he announce special status for AP..