The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Moily’s assertion unnerves Telangana Congress leaders

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Saturday, Oct 27, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Moily’s assertion unnerves Telangana Congress leaders

Special Correspondent

They want an early decision on Telangana
state issue
Moily urged not to insist on second States Reorganisation Commission

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, MP, and AICC secretary Madhu Yaskhi attended.

After Mr. Moily and Dr. Reddy left, the 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 Gandhi. 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.

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

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