The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Statehood for Telangana doubtful: BJP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 01, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Statehood for Telangana doubtful: BJP

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Citing the talk of TRS-Congress merger and different views aired by Congress leaders, the BJP has expressed scepticism about grant of Telangana statehood in the near future.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, BJP leaders -- Ch. Vidyasagar Rao and K. Laxman -- described the talk of merger between the two parties as `dangerous.' Besides, senior Congress leaders from Telangana were talking in different voices with G. Venkataswamy, MP, describing the UPA committee, headed by the Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, as `bogus.'

Given such statements and suggestions for merger, it appeared that Telangana might not be achieved in the present context. The BJP was in favour of carving out Telangana and would appreciate if anybody succeeds, be it the TRS or the Congress.

Key issues

They urged the Government to take immediate action on three issues pertaining to Telangana -- implementation of the Girglani Committee report, the rural employment guarantee scheme and diversion of Godavari waters to meet drinking water and irrigation needs.

The BJP leaders wanted construction of barrages up to Dummagudem under the step-ladder system to divert Godavari waters.

Civic polls

They opposed the reported Government move to hold indirect elections for municipalities.

Division of the wards was not being done properly, they alleged and said that enumeration of BC population on the basis of voter list would cause injustice to them.

Liberation Day

Mr. Vidyasagar Rao also asked the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, to respond to the letter written by the Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, in September last, suggesting that the Government officially celebrate Hyderabad Liberation Day.

He said the event had lot of historic significance and the Maharashtra and Karnataka Governments were celebrating it every year.

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