Taking exception to protests over the celebrations of Andhra Pradesh Formation Day, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah today said those agitating for Telangana should have patience until the Centre takes a decision on the issue.
“It has been a tradition to celebrate the formation of the state since 1956. There are many who want separate state. I am not finding fault with them. I don’t object to their efforts. But the efforts should be democratic. It should not lead to hostility among people,” he told reporters here.
The Telangana protagonists should wait until the Centre takes a decision on the issue after the Srikrishna Committee submits its report, he said.
“Whether the state should remain united or divided, if divided, how it should be done or what else can be done, all these things are being looked into by Srikrishna committee. The state would remain united until the committee submits a report and the Centre takes a decision. So, let’s wait,” the chief minister said.
“Let’s respect the decision taken by the Centre finally. I have said umpteen times that the decision taken by the Centre should be binding on all of us. That is the process. We cannot have street fights or do as we wish. No state is formed without Centre,” Mr. Rosaiah said.
A group of pro-Telangana activists today made a bid to storm the residence of the Chief Minister and other ministers here in protest against the celebrations of Andhra Pradesh Formation Day tomorrow.
The protesters including students marched towards the Chief Minister’s residence at the Daram Karan road in Ameerpet and tried to break the barricades but police stopped them and took the sloganeers into preventive custody.
Similarly, mild tension prevailed near the Ministers Quarters in Banjara Hills, after a group of activists tried to stage protests but were taken into custody.
The pro-Telangana activists have been demanding that the state government cancel the official celebration of the AP Formation Day on November 1.
TRS and the Telangana Joint Action Committee has decided to observe AP Formation Day as “betrayal day” and had also asked all Telangana ministers, and other public representatives to boycott the celebrations.
