TRS will emerge as a political force: KCR

Says it is the only solution to achieve separate Telangana State

The massive gathering at the TRS’ Telangana Samara Bheri meeting addressed. Photo: Singam Venkataramana

Telangana Rashtra Samiti president K. Chandrasekhar Rao has reiterated his party’s resolve to emerge as the decisive political force in its own right as “it is the only solution to achieve separate Telangana State.”

The TRS, with representation of two members, could disrupt proceedings of the Lok Sabha for some time. “Imagine if the party had over a dozen MPs. We could have stalled the proceedings altogether till the demand is conceded,” he said.

Mr. Rao who addressed a massive crowd that thronged the town for the TRS’ Telangana Samara Bheri meeting on Sunday said the party at the same time, would continue its active role in the Telangana movement under the supervision of the political Joint Action Committee headed by M. Kodandaram.

Targeting the Telugu Desam and the YSR Congress for their attempts to hoodwink the people with their promises, the TRS president launched a broadside against TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu. “By dilly dallying on separate Telangana, Mr. Naidu in fact prompted the Centre to backtrack on its announcement,” he said.

In his speech laced with sarcastic comments against Mr. Naidu and YSR Congress honorary president Y.S. Vijayamma, Mr. Rao wondered how the TDP president was trying to learn about credibility which he and his party lacked.

Ms. Vijayamma on her part wanted people to worry about her son rather than their problems. “We have seen enough of Rajanna (YSR’s) rule and Chandranna (TDP Govt) rule which plundered resources of Telangana to serve the interests of Seemandhra people,” he said cautioning the people against the “designs” of these two parties to take them for a ride.

The Congress, on its part, invited him for discussions in New Delhi with an assurance of carving out a separate State, but its leaders went back even after the TRS accepted their proposal to merge the party with it once Telangana State was formed. “The Congress deceived the people for over five decades and the party has not changed,” he said.

Mr. Rao announced that there would be 24 districts in Telangana once it became separate State for administrative convenience.

The pension to old age and widows would be enhanced to Rs. 1,000 a month while it would be Rs. 1,500 in case of the physically challenged. In addition, Telangana would get a share of close to 1,300 tmc ft of water from Krishna and Godavari rivers that would be effectively used to reach out the last mile.