AP Dy CM’s visit to disputed AOB villages raises tension

21 villages in the area have remained a disputed area with both the States staking claim over it. A survey undertaken by Odisha near Araku valley was strongly objected by the local tribals in undivided Visakhapatnam district

Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Peedika Rajanna Dora stoked fire with his visit to disputed areas in the Kotia Group of Villages in Andhra-Odisha border (AOB) on Monday.

This is his third visit to the Kotia area located between Salur of undivided Vizianagaram district of AP and Pattangi of Koraput district of Odisha in about five months.

The jurisdiction of bordering villages, where tribals stay on hilltop areas, had recently hit the headlines with the visit of Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan who during his interaction with the locals had shouted ‘go back to Andhra’ when he spotted some policemen in mufti recording his visit. The Central Minister had toured the area to celebrate the formation day of Odisha on April 1.

Braving heavy downpour in the morning, Dora who made an unscheduled tour of the Kotia villages, said the AP Government is extending many benefits under various schemes introduced by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. An Aadhaar enrolment centre was opened in the area sometime ago.

The Deputy Chief Minister visited the disputed areas accompanied by a posse of police force as part of ‘Jagananna Mee Bhavishyat’ (Jagan anna is our future) survey to elicit the opinion of the people on various schemes being implemented.

21 villages in the area have remained a disputed area with both the States staking claim over it. A survey undertaken by Odisha near Araku valley was strongly objected by the local tribals in undivided Visakhapatnam district. While Odisha was formed in 1936, Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1956 as part of the Gentlemen’s Agreement.

Amo Kotia Sangathan convener and former District Collector of Koraput Gadadhar Parida said he had documents and maps to prove that Kotia villages belong to Odisha.

Pradhan during his recent visit blamed the Biju Janata Dal Government in Odisha for not asserting Odisha’s rights over the villages. On the other hand, the Opposition party leaders including those belonging to the Congress found fault with the BJD Government for taking up a poor stand over Odisha’s claims over the villages. “Why has Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik not yet visited the Kotia villages,” asked Congress MLA from the neighbouring State Suresh Kumar Routray.