AP leaders demand to make Hyderabad second capital of India

Amid the uncertainty over fate of Hyderabad after proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Dr Ambedkar's proposition that the city could become the second capital of India is being raised afresh by some non-Telagana leaders. None other than the architect of Indian Constitution, B R Ambedkar, suggested long ago that Hyderabad be made the nation's second capital after New Delhi.

In the current scenario, it will be the most appropriate thing to do, TDP spokesman Sudheesh Rambhotla noted today. Yesterday, while asking that the move to bifurcate AP be kept on hold, Union Ministers from Andhra-Rayalaseema regions also made a case to the party high command in this regard. Among the three options that the Union ministers placed before the high command over Hyderabad were: making it a permanent 'common capital' for the two states (Telangana and Andhra Pradesh); making it a Union Territory or the second capital of India.

Congress leaders reportedly prevailed upon their high command to accept any of these three options to ensure a smooth division of the state, informed sources said.
 Our main demand, however, is for keeping the state united. The other options are secondary, a Union Minister said over phone from New Delhi. We were asked to present these issues to the party-appointed committee, headed by A K Antony, for consideration, the minister added.

CPI state secretary K Narayana said it was for the Congress to take the initiative on making Hyderabad the second capital of India. In his book 'Thoughts on Linguistic States', Dr B R Ambedkar noted, The feeling of the southern people is that the Capital of their country is far away from them and that they are being ruled by the people of northern India. Hyderabad fulfils all the requirements of a capital for India. Hyderabad is equidistant to all states. From the defence point of view it would give safety to the Central Government.