Railway Zone stir angers Chandrababu Naidu as initiative is lost

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is unhappy with losing the initiative over the railway zone formation in Visakhapatnam. This follows Gudivada Amarnath going on a fast over the demand for the creation of a railway zone centred around Visakhapatnam. Chandrababu is unhappy with the Ministers hailing from Visakhapatnam, Ganta Srinivasa Rao and Ayyanapatrudu, for losing the initiative to Amarnath. `Why did you allow Amarnath to go to the extent of fasting over the matter? Now what can we do? Whatever you do, it would reflect on the government. You have thrown Visakhapatnam district affairs to the winds,' he chastised the Ministers. Over and above, Amarnath's deeksha programme is getting all round support from the people of the region. This is particularly galling to the administration. To add salt to their wounds, security agencies point to the overwhelming support of the people to Amarnath's programme. Despite the police bid to dissuade the people, more and more are rallying round Amarnath. It was against this background that the Chief Minister had taken a class for the two Ministers. Chandrababu specifically told the Ministers that Amarnath had announced a month ago that he was launching an agitation for the railway zone. If so, why didn't they take the matter seriously? You could have prevented him from going ahead by citing technical and other objections, he reportedly told them. In this situation, the people would naturally veer round to Amarnath and any administrative move would be chafed at. Therefore, the two Ministers should ensure that the people are not alienated in regard to the railway zone. The Ministers were left dismal over the Railway zone agitation.