Several TRS, Congress and Praja Rajyam MPs, MLAs and MLCs have resigned accusing the Centre of putting in “cold storage” the formation of Telangana State.
Announcing that more than 30 public representatives had resigned, TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao said that he had faxed his resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker. His colleague in the Lok Sabha, Vijayashanti too put in her papers.
Mr. Rao drove down to senior Congress MLA K. Jana Reddy’s residence to participate in an urgently-called meeting and announced the formation of a joint action committee (JAC) of public representatives to take the struggle for separate statehood forward. He also called for a 48-hour bandh in the region from Thursday.
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Addressing a joint press conference, Mr. Rao, Mr. Jana Reddy and Praja Rajyam MLA Anil, said the “vague” statement of Mr. Chidambaram appeared to put on hold formation of Telangana. They pointed out that no time-frame was fixed for the wide-ranging consultations as mentioned by the Home Minister and it could even take 50 years.
They said the people of Telangana have been once again deceived and betrayed by Mr. Chidambaram’s statement. He said Telangana region’s public representatives ranging from MPTC members to MPs and MLAs, of all parties, keeping aside their party affiliations, would meet on Thursday morning and submit their resignations. Subsequently, the JAC of public representatives would chalk out an action programme.
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They also accused the government of acting partially by imposing sections 30 and 144 of IPC all over Telangana, while it had allowed bus yatras of Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi and Telugu Desam leaders in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema. They demanded Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to immediately withdraw the restrictions and warned that government would face a “volatile situation” otherwise.
They appealed to the people, particularly students and youth, to observe the bandh peacefully. They urged students not to succumb to emotions and make suicide attempts.
Timeframe sought
Mr. Jana Reddy urged the Centre to reconsider its decision and announce clearly that Telangana formation would be done in a time-bound manner.
Claiming that the TDP legislators, E. Dayakar Rao and L. Ramana have resigned, they invited them to join the JAC. Leaders from BJP and CPI have expressed solidarity with the JAC, they said.
Meanwhile, State BJP unit after an emergency meeting of its office-bearers called for a 24-hour bandh in protest against Mr. Chidambaram’s statement. State BJP president Bandaru Dattatreya accused Congress party of indulging in deceit and playing with the sentiments of Telangana people.
KCR, 29 other lawmakers resign
Protesting the Centre’s apparent bid to buy more time on Telangana issue, TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao and 29 other lawmakers from the region cutting across party lines resigned on Wednesday night.
Taking the lead, Rao faxed his resignation letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar late this evening and he was quickly followed by Lok Sabha MP from Medak M Vijayasanthi who was elected on a TRS ticket.
About 30 legislators belonging to Congress, TDP, TRS and Praja Rajyam Party also submitted their resignations when reports last came in till late tonight.
"I have sent my resignation. As many as 30 resignations have been made so far", Rao told reporters emerging from a meeting with senior Congress MLA K Jana Reddy and R Damodar Reddy and other leaders from Telangana.
While all the ten MLAs belonging to TRS submitted their resignations, one MLC belonging to Telangana Vimochana Samiti, three MLAs of TDP, two of PRP also followed suit.
More MLAs and MLCs from Telangana are expected to quit.
TDP MP from Adilabad Ramesh Rathod will submit his resignation on Thursday.
Leaders from all parties in the region formed a Telangana Political Joint Action Committee to take forward their movement for a separate state. The Committee will meet here tomorrow to decide the course of action.
TDP legislators are meeting here on Thursday to decide on their course of action.
Reports reaching here say some chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of Zilla Parishads and other local bodies also resigned in protest against Home Minister P Chidambaram’s statement earlier in the evening that the Centre would hold wide-ranging consultations on Telangana issue since a large number of political parties are divided on it.