Telangana Congress leaders have warned the Kiran Kumar Reddy government that it will not be allowed to continue if it persists with its attempts to crush with an iron hand the ‘Sakalajanula Samme' launched by employees of the region.
Extending full support to the agitation, Telangana Congress leaders decide to exert pressure on the Centre and high command to take a decision on the statehood issue before September 30 and opposed the party's decision to field a candidate in the Banswada Assembly bye-election.
At a meeting of the steering committee held at the residence of Rajya Sabha member K. Keshava Rao here on Friday, leaders faulted attempts to invoke the provisions of ESMA to contain the on going agitation.
“How can the government plan to stifle striking employees' voice and their right to agitate for Telangana,” Nalgonda MP Gutha Sukhender Reddy said.
He said the arrest of TNGO's president Swamy Goud was an indication of the government's attitude towards the agitation.
The meeting decided to send a delegation led by Dr. Keshava Rao and Panchayat Raj Minister K. Jana Reddy to Delhi to meet central leaders in the next two to three days. “We have set September 30 as the deadline for a positive announcement from Delhi on the Telangana issue,” Mr. Sukhender Reddy said.
Sources said the delegation would carry the letters of resignation of Telangana Congress MLAs and Ministers to the high command.
“If the high command does not respond positively, the MLAs and Ministers will submit their resignation letters to Speaker and Governor respectively in October first week,” a senior Congress leader maintained.
Leaders reiterated their demand that the party should not contest the Banswada bypoll. They reasoned that results of the bye-elections to 12 Assembly seats last year would be repeated in Banswada also.
Queried whether the party leaders would campaign in Banswada, Mr. Sukhender Reddy said: “When we are opposing fielding a candidate, where is the question of our campaigning. The Congress high command has to own up responsibility for any debacle,” he added.
