The proposed meeting in Hyderabad on Thursday by those in favour of a unified Andhra Pradesh is a democratic exercise and a peaceful affair. Why should the supporters of a separate Telangana oppose it? asked Minister for Infrastructure and Investments Ganta Srinivasa Rao here on Wednesday.
If the Telangana leaders did not allow the meeting to be held, what could be the fate of people from Andhra living in Hyderabad if a separate Telangana was formed, wondered Mr. Srinivasa Rao at a press conference after he held a meeting with representatives of various JACs.
The meeting would pass a resolution stressing the need to keep the State united and a strong and loud message would be sent to the Central government since it was expected to come out with a decision on Telangana by January 28. Also a public meeting would be held here later by bringing all those supporting a unified State on to a single platform, he said. A coordination committee would be formed with its agenda and participants to be decided in a couple of days.
Mr. Srinivasa Rao hit back at Telangana Congress leader K. Keshav Rao who said the Andhra leaders were not heeding to the directions of the party high command. “Did the Telangana Congress leaders honour high command’s directions in the past (when asked not to talk about Telangana in public),” asked Mr. Srinivasa Rao.
On Mr. Keshav Rao mocking at his statement on resignation, the Minister said his resignation would not be a formality and he was serious when he said he would resign if the State was bifurcated.
Government Whip Dronamraju Srinivasa Rao, MLAs Malla Vijaya Prasad and Ch. Venkatramaiah, leaders of different JACs Kishore, Mahesh, Govind, J.T. Rama Rao, Peddada Ramani, and others were present.
Brochure released
Mr. Srinivasa Rao released a brochure, Samaikhyandra-Telugu Vaalla Janmahakku.
