Border row: Opposition urges government’s intervention to ease tensions in Kotia

Opposition parties have urged the State government to take initiative to reclaim territorial control over the disputed Kotia cluster villages located along the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border and expressed concerns over the frequent tensions.

They alleged that the ruling party leaders including Minister for Tribal Welfare G. Sandhya Rani, were limiting their statements, rather than taking measures to ease the issues of the Telugu speaking people living in those villages.

Opposition leaders criticised the frequent police cases reportedly being filed by the Odisha authorities against the residents of Telugu origin.

They said that the on-going Census data collection exercise is the immediate reason for the tension as a majority of the residents in these border villages sought to remain within the territorial jurisdiction of Andhra Pradesh.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Peedika Rajannna Dora on Friday dared Ms. Sandhya Rani to visit the Kotia villages and ensure effective implementation of the welfare schemes and developmental programmes, as they fall under the Saluru constituency in Parvatipuram-Manyam district.

Mr. Rajanna said: “Former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had met with the then Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik in November, 2021 to resolve the Kotia issue permanently. I have also visited the villages several times in the backdrop of Odisha’s domination in those 28 revenue villages. Unfortunately, Ms. Sandhya Rani has not visited the area to instil confidence among the people who are facing hardships there.”

Parvatipuram-Manyam District Congress Committee president Vangala Dalinaidu has asked the Collector, Superintendent of Police, and public representatives to hold regular meetings in those villages, stating that they are a part of Andhra Pradesh as per the government orders issued during the creation of the State of AP in 1956.

Mr. Dalinaidu said: “The Odisha police personnel have filed cases against people who cooperated with the Andhra Pradesh census staff. This is a serious matter and the Andhra Pradesh government officials must discuss and take it up with their Odisha counterparts to prevent further tensions in these villages.”

Lok Satta Party State president Bhisetti Babji urged the government to hold a meeting immediately with representatives of all political parties and discuss the issue in the next Assembly session. He said that many people wanted to remain under the A.P. administration to receive the benefits of welfare schemes and protect their properties.