Taking strong exception to L K Advani’s attack on the UPA and his support for Telangana demand during his anti-graft yatra in Andhra Pradesh, the state Congress on Thursday accused the BJP leader of playing politics.
Hitting out at Mr. Advani for his comments that the ruling party has betrayed the people on the Telangana issue, Andhra Pradesh Congress President B Satyanarayana said the BJP leader should first explain why the NDA government failed to deliver on the statehood demand.
“BJP had promised to give Telangana (state) way back in 1998. But after coming to power at the Centre, they conveniently forgot the promise. The reason was that they had won seats in non-Telangana regions. BJP had conveniently shifted the blame on TDP for not giving Telangana,” he told reporters in Hyderabad.
The PCC President distributed photo copies of a letter written in 2002 by Mr. Advani as Union Home Minister, in which he had said there was “no intention to create separate Telangana”.
“The government of India is of the view that regional disparities in economic development can be tackled through planning and efficient use of available resources. The government, therefore, does not propose creation of a separate state of Telangana,” said the letter written by Mr. Advani to then MP from Andhra Pradesh A Narendra.
“Why Mr. Advani did not talk about this during his yatra? Does not he need to explain? You keep such things aside and attack Congress. Mr. Advani should first apologise to the Telangana people for not giving Telangana despite making a promise,” Mr. Satyanarayana said.
