HYDERABAD: The State Congress leadership has turned its attention to the Telangana issueto stem confusion over its role in the region following the threat by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to step up its agitation for separate statehood.

The Congress is veering round to the view that it should highlight its commitment to the Telangana sentiment and impress upon people the need for development of the region.

In doing so, the party hopes to counter the `separate-Telangana' slogan by subtly pitting a `developed-Telangana' agenda against it.

At the same time, it wants to hint that development does not foreclose the option of separate Statehood as AICC president Sonia Gandhi is not averse to the Telangana sentiment. On record, however, none is willing to talk about a separate State till the Congress high command clears it.

Cautioned

Meanwhile, APCC president K. Keshava Rao told district Congress presidents from the region on Tuesday that there is no need to press panic buttons and cautioned them against responding in kind to the TRS' diatribe.

As for the charge of betraying the TRS, the party would place the understanding reached with the TRS before 2004 general elections before the public if needed. It would campaign that the Congress was always in favour of a second States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) but was trying to evolve a consensus and hence, there should be no reason for anyone to doubt its sincerity.

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