The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : No Telangana without struggle: Fernandes

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Sunday, Aug 27, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

No Telangana without struggle: Fernandes

Special Correspondent

Does not see bright chances for new State during UPA rule

CLOSE CONSULTATION: NDA convener George Fernandes listening to Telangana Jana Parishad convener Keshav Rao Jadhav at a meeting in Hyderabad on Saturday. — Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

HYDERABAD: National Democratic Alliance convener George Fernandes has categorically stated that separate Telangana will not be created during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule.

"I cannot imagine the separate Telangana State issue being resolved without a struggle," he told a press conference here on Saturday. Extending "full" support for the cause, he suggested that the momentum had to be stepped up so as to bring pressure on the Congress to concede the "genuine" demand.

Faulting the Congress stand, he said when a majority of parties accepted the fact that "injustice" had been done to Telangana for decades it was "unfortunate" that the party was not ready to agree.

When the issue was raised in Parliament by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti MPs, other members supported their argument, and said the region had been neglected, he pointed out. Most MPs supported the struggle by TRS chief K.Chandasekhara Rao who quit his ministerial post to launch a struggle for statehood.

He said the Congress while maintaining silence after the debate referred to the TRS leaders' remarks that the party had broken its promises. By denying a separate State, it had cheated the people of the region, Mr. Fernandes added.

Asked to comment on the Congress stand that the second SRC would deal with the demand, he said the party was known for its "manipulative politics". On the stand by some party leaders that a separate State could be carved out only after declaring Hyderabad a union territory, he said these issues had to be dealt with carefully.

To a query on a private member's Bill on Telangana, he said such a move would not serve any purpose. Telangana Jana Parishad convener Keshava Rao Jadhav was present.

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