The Hindu : Front Page : CM-Congress seniors’ dinner meeting a damp squib

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Saturday, Feb 23, 2008
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CM-Congress seniors’ dinner meeting a damp squib

Venkataswamy and others stick to their guns

PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

Serious talk: Senior Congress leaders from Telangana at a press conference at the residence of Congress Working Committee member G. Venkatswamy in Hyderabad on Friday. —

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s effort to mollify the Congress seniors on the Telangana issue did not have any impact as they decided to continue to agitate for creation of a separate State before 2009 elections.

After a dinner meeting with the Chief Minister lasting 90 minutes here on Friday night, Congress Working Committee member G. Venkataswamy said that Dr. Reddy “unfortunately” failed to give any specific assurance on the statehood. Sources said that the Chief Minister had conveyed his ability to only apprise party president Sonia Gandhi of the aspirations of the seniors about a separate Telangana.

He is said to have told the seniors that it was not proper to openly criticise the leaders as it would cause damage to the party’s interest. He also harped on the development the Government had undertaken in the last four years and sought their cooperation. The seniors on their part acknowledged the development, but insisted that they would continue to demand a separate State.

AICC general secretary Veerappa Moily said in New Delhi that the Chief Minister had taken his own initiative to meet the seniors to find a solution to the issue.

Mr. Venkataswamy said that they had told the Chief Minister that if he took the initiative, a separate State would become a reality shortly. He said that they would meet the AICC president during her visit to the city on March 14, if they got an invitation. He went on to say that the Bhongir meeting would be organised after Ms. Gandhi’s visit.

The meeting was attended by the APSRTC Chairman M. Satyanarayana Rao, Telangana Development Regional Development Board chairman V. Purushottam Reddy, MLCs -- K. R. Amos, B. Kamalakar Rao, S. Indrasain Reddy, former PCC chief P. Narsa Reddy and others.

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