The Hindu : Front Page : Telangana issue Sonia’s top priority: NTP

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Friday, Oct 24, 2008
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Telangana issue Sonia’s top priority: NTP

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi is said to have assured Nava Telangana Party (NTP) that the Telangana issue was her “top priority” and introduction of a Bill in this regard by the UPA government would be considered after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh returned from his foreign tour.

Ms. Gandhi, who interacted with an eight-member NTP delegation, led by its president T. Devender Goud, told them that she understood the “seriousness of the issue and sentiments of the people”. The delegation is in the capital meeting various party leaders to mobilise support for the issue, besides seeking introduction and adoption of the Bill on Telangana before Assembly/Lok Sabha elections.

NTP general secretary and former Minister E. Peddy Reddy, who too was in the delegation, told The Hindu, they had reminded her that though the Congress had taken up the issue in 2001 and included Telangana in the common minimum programme (CMP) of the UPA government in 2004, it failed to implement it.

When pointed out to her that the Congress might have to pay a heavy price in the elections if the Bill was not brought, Ms. Gandhi quipped: “I know it”, according to Mr. Reddy.

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