Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh ministers on Monday criticised Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for opposing AP Reorganisation Act, saying their government was ready to negotiate all contentious issues with his government and find an amicable resolution in the larger interests of Telugu people.

You were party to the AP Reorganisation Bill from its drafting stage. You were a party when the Bill was passed (high-handedly) in Parliament by the then UPA government (in February this year).

The TRS joined hands with the Congress in enacting the legislation. Why are you opposing its provisions and raking up unnecessary controversies now, Andhra Pradesh ministers Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Kamineni Srinivasa Rao, Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, K Atchannaidu and Palle Raghunatha Reddy said at a press conference here this evening.

The issue was discussed at length at the meeting of state Cabinet here this afternoon wherein it was felt that the Telangana government was going on the offencive even as the AP government remained on the defencive.

The Cabinet also wanted to petition the President of India, Centre and the Governor (common for both states) over the violation of the AP Reorganisation Act by the Telangana government. Launching a vitriolic attack on Telangana chief minister, the ministers said that the former never opposed any provision of the AP Reorganisation Bill when it was being passed in Parliament.

"You did not move a single amendment to the Bill and got it passed only because you got it drafted to suit your interests. You are now opposing the Act now only to gain political advantage", the ministers alleged. They were referring to the Telangana government's objection to the Union Home Ministry's directive over granting of special responsibility to the Governor in accordance with Section 8 of the said Act.