The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : A slip of the tongue, says Narendra

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 13, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

A slip of the tongue, says Narendra

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 12. The Union Minister of State for Rural Development, A. Narendra, has defended the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president, K. Chandrasekhar Rao's taunt at the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) president, Sonia Gandhi, saying it was natural that while playing to the gallery certain `unintended' words would slip from the tongue.

Hard-hitting speech

It was inevitable that a good leader enthused his party workers with a

hard-hitting speech. That was precisely what Mr. Rao was doing at the party convention which was attended by hundreds of activists from all Telangana districts. He was not addressing a news conference where he would have been selective in usage of words, Mr. Narendra told reporters here on Sunday.

Mr. Narendra said the TRS would clarify the factual position to Ms. Gandhi shortly. There was no substance in the controversy except the media hype.

He added that the TRS had no differences with the Congress high command as it was favourable to the formation of Telangana State.

The problem was only with the State Congress leaders, particularly those opposed to Telangana cause.

The TRS' war of words was targeted at this section alone, he said and added that he did not see any reason why differences should arise between the two parties on account of this.

Colloquial language

Making a strong plea not to read any meaning behind Mr. Rao's remarks, Mr. Narendra said the TRS chief was speaking in the colloquial language.

The TRS had no intentions to purchase problems for itself by getting into controversies.

Reacting to the threat of the Congress to review its relationship with the TRS,

Mr. Narendra said the latter would distance itself if Telangana State was not conceded by the Congress.

The time was not far. The Congress-led UPA Government was supposed to announce this by December, he said.

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