Seven Ministers, besides Congress MPs and MLAs from Telangana, have announced that they would resign if the Centre fails to introduce and pass a Bill on a separate Telangana in the budget session of the Parliament.
Apparently perturbed by the contents of the Srikrishna Committee favouring continuation of a united State, the Congress leaders held a meeting at the Nizam Club here on Friday when they asserted that they were not prepared to accept anything short of a separate Telangana. They resolved “to go to any extent.” Minister for Endowments Jupalli Krishna Rao went a step ahead by stating that he would begin an indefinite fast the moment he was convinced that the Bill would not be introduced.
Those present at the meeting were Ministers J. Geeta Reddy, Mr. Krishna Rao, D. Sridhar Babu, K. Jana Reddy, K. Venkat Reddy, V. Suneeta Lakshma Reddy and B. Saraiah, MPs Madhu Yashki, Ponnam Prabhakar, G. Sukhender Reddy, Balram Naik, K. Rajagopal Reddy, Manda Jagannatham, G. Vivekanand and S. Rajaiah, besides several MLAs and MLCs.
They took stock of the situation arising from the deployment of para-military forces in large numbers in the Telangana region, the university campuses in particular, and the restrictions imposed on the coverage of developments by the media.
Sixth option shocking
The Congress leaders said they were shocked by the sixth option given by the Srikrishna Committee that a united State was the best way forward. Recalling the statement of Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on December 9, 2009 about initiating the process of creation of a separate State, they said the credibility of the Congress and its president Sonia Gandhi would be at stake if the Centre went back on its promise.
They endorsed the fifth option favouring formation of Telangana, with Hyderabad as its capital. They felt that the committee failed to reflect the aspirations of the Telangana people in spite of its claim of having done an exhaustive study.
“We cannot remain silent spectators when our children are dying for the cause of a separate State and we are prepared for any sacrifices to achieve our goal,” Mr. Krishna Rao told reporters after the meeting.
Keywords: Telangana issue, United Andhra, Congress, statehood demand, Srikrishna Committee
I dont understand how all political parties which agreed and even had in their manifestos agreed to a separate Telangana, reversed within 12 hours and there is no way that action can be taken on them.I would like to request all brothers whether from Telangana or Seemandhra just think about this. It's not only about Telangana, political parties are free to promise anything before elections and then forget those promises later and we dont have any institution to ask them to explain this behaviour. About People: Is it just a mistake or overconfidence of the Seemandhra people(or who want united AP) to vote for all political parties which promised Telangana? ANd finally (here I am just thinking not like a Telanganite or Andhrite just like common man expecting some solution), How can the Srikrishna panel propose in the sixth option to make again the so called board or committees for Telangana ,which were already existing and but failed to satisfy them?
Would it be feasible if Telengana becomes a separate state but Hyderabad becoming the joint capital for both Andhra and Telengana, like in the case of Chandigarh which is the joint capital for both Punjab and Haryana? Looks it is too late in the day for denying a separate Telengana.
If para-military forces are attacking students and media is told (by police commisioner) not to show any thing, then what can be expected from these so called Congress public leaders? Students are demanding a seperate Telangana, which Congress has put in it's manifesto before before coming to power. In a democracy, is it wrong to question why Congress is not able to deliver what it has said before elections? Attrocious! Congress will pay heavily for such an undemocratic and feudal ruling in Telangana.
MLA'S want to do sacrifices by resigning. God given them strength to retire.Irrespective of any Party, most of them are eligible for Voluntary Retirement. Please give way to young generation. Tired of these same old faces fighting elections for ever. Regarding Sixth Option: Govt must accept the mistake of neglecting Telengana and start bold and corrective actions by implementing the Gentlemen Agreements and announce substantial package (Higher than Vidharbha package). Have specific Time bound development plan. Students education is spoiled beyond words. Declare Internal Emergency in AP ,to control the situation. OU Campus is a place for Professional Education. Sad to see the place where we studied, has been converted into J&K. If VC's are responsible, then Governor is also equally responsible.
Well Educated People and Citizens would choose the best way forward. Seperate Telangana from AP State with Hyderabad as a Union Territory with a special exception that the additional income earned by Hyderabad will be evenly distributed to the two newly fomed states. This way the no faction of the people of Andhra Pradesh state will feel cheated in one way or the other. This way the economy plus the present international status of Hyderabad would remain protected, in fact will help double the economical progress.
I thought Geeta Reddy is one of the stable and rational leaders. Her being present at the meeting says otherwise.
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