The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Telangana Congressmen come out of their shell

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Saturday, Oct 27, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Telangana Congressmen come out of their shell

Special Correspondent

Decide to push statehood issue by bringing pressure on high command

They want an early decision on Telangana issue
Consider insistence on second SRC’s decision unnecessary

HYDERABAD: Unnerved by the categorical assertion of AICC general secretary Veerappa Moily on Telangana, Congress leaders from the region on Friday decided to bring pressure on the party high command to realise the ‘strong’ sentiments of the people and take an early decision on the statehood.

They felt that unless the high command took a decision, without reference to the second States Reorganisation Commission (SRC), the party would find the going tough in Telangana in the Assembly elections in 2009.

They were of the opinion that partymen must reach out to the people and convince them that the Congress was genuinely concerned about the issue.This discussion took place at the residence of former APCC president K. Keshava Rao, who hosted a breakfast for Mr. Moily.

Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, his Cabinet colleagues K. Jana Reddy, Botcha Satyanarayana, J.C. Diwakar Reddy, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, former ministers M. Satyanarayana Rao, P. Janardhan Reddy, V. Hanumantha Rao, Member of Parliament, and AICC secretary Madhu Yaskhi Goud attended.

Fallout discussed

After Mr. Moily and Dr. Reddy left, the other leaders discussed the fallout of Mr. Moily’s statement.

Party sources quoted Mr. Jana Reddy as saying any further delay on the issue of statehood would prove costly for the Congress for several years. Dr. Keshava Rao reportedly said that if the party took an early decision on Telangana, there were prospects of the TRS and the Congress facing the elections jointly.

Mr. Satyanarayana Rao advised Mr. Madhu Yaskhi to take up the issue with AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhiand lobby for a separate State. On his part, Mr. Yaskhi advocated that Congress leaders should stop demanding separate PCC or appointing a leader from Telangana as PCC chief as it would dilute the main issue.

Second SRC

Later, Mr. Yaskhi met Mr. Moily and urged him not to insist on second SRC for taking a decision on Telangana.

Earlier, Dr. Reddy and Mr. Moily called on senior Congress leader G. Venkatswamy at his residence.

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