Minister for Civil Supplies D. Sridhar Babu said he had submitted his resignation as a sign of revolt against the attempts by Seemandhra leaders, including Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, to derail the formation of Telangana State.
Mr. Babu, who was stripped of the Legislative Affairs portfolio, forwarded his resignation letter to the Chief Minister through his office staff on Thursday night, addressed a press conference here on Friday to give his version on the developments in the last two days. He did not attend the Assembly today and instead met fellow legislators and leaders from Karimnagar district.
Mr. Babu said humiliation was heaped on him as a Minister and an individual in the last few months. By divesting him of Legislative Affairs subject, Mr. Kiran Reddy had insulted four crore people of Telangana.
“I am not bothered whether the crucial subject is handled by me or not. I only performed my constitutional obligation on the day when the draft Bill on bifurcation was tabled. I urged the Deputy Speaker to initiate the debate by inviting the Leader of the Opposition to speak on the Bill,” he said. He wondered if following rules and regulation was his fault.
“Telangana people are waiting for their dreams of a separate Telangana State to fructify. It is sad that the Chief Minister and Seemandhra leaders have not respected the sentiments. I have not resigned for myself”, he said.
Mr. Babu went on to say that his resignation was just a small step when compared to the sacrifices made by the families of youth and students, who ended their lives for the cause of Telangana. The need of the hour was to continue the debate and complete the process of division in fixed time frame.
