In a relief to ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh, party MLAs from Telangana region today ended their boycott of the ongoing budget session of Andhra Pradesh Assembly over the raging Telangana issue.
The decision came following a meeting they had with Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and State Congress President D Srinivas in the assembly buildings.
The Congress MLAs from Telangana have unanimously decided to end their boycott as they have a responsibility to see that the State budget is passed and that a whip has been issued for the ongoing legislative council elections, Congress MLA Arepalli Mohan told reporters after the meeting.
He hoped that the Centre would take a positive decision on the separate statehood demand after the completion of the elections in five States.
He, however, asserted that they would continue to raise their voice for separate Telangana inside the House.
Replying to a query, he said they asked the Chief Minister about the Telangana demand.
“The Chief Minister and Centre is likely to call a meeting of political parties from the State soon to discuss the Sri Krishna Committee report. The Chief Minister also said he would abide by Centre’s decision,” Mr. Mohan said.
The Telangana Congress MLAs and MLCs have been staying away from the assembly session since early this month in support of the Telangana demand.
The main opposition Telugu Desam MLAs and MLCs from Telangana have also been boycotting the assembly session.
Congress MLC and AICC secretary P Sudhakar Reddy said the Prime Minister and other top leaders have already made it clear that the Telangana issue is being considered seriously.
Asserting that attending the assembly session is not a climb down, he said it does not amount to stopping the agitation for separate Telangana.
He slammed the Telangana political Joint Action Committee (JAC) Convener M Kodandaram for saying that the “Andhra Pradesh Assembly is dead and that the JAC would conduct the rituals performed after death“.
“Assembly will be there even after the formation of Telangana. It is part of constitutional system. Someone may make similar comments against the assembly even after Telangana is formed. Such comments should not set a precedent.
These comments are highly condemnable and I demand that Mr. Kodandaram withdraw these comments,” Mr. Reddy said.
