The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Telangana issue referred to Sonia: Rajasekhara Reddy

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Saturday, Nov 17, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Telangana issue referred to Sonia: Rajasekhara Reddy

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy has said that there was no need to talk about separate Telangana issue as the matter was now in the hands of the AICC president Sonia Gandhi.

Asked to react to former Minister M. Satyanarayana Rao’s comment that he was the stumbling block in the creation of Telangana at a press conference, Dr. Reddy said the former had clarified that he had been misquoted.

Even otherwise, since the matter had been referred to the AICC president, there was no need for anyone to talk about it, he said and added that instead of speaking about the statehood, people should see the development taking place in the region.

Ignores remarks

Dr. Reddy ignored the remarks made by the TRS president K. Chandrasekhara Rao that he should be forced to step down. “Every party has its own agenda and its leaders speak accordingly,” he pointed out.

On the other hand, Mr. Satyanarayana Rao, refused to comment on his earlier assertion that Dr. Reddy was an obstacle to the formation of separate Telangana.

Asked if he thought the “obstacle should be removed”, he wondered how it would help the cause of Telangana. He said he would himself take up the issue of Telangana with Ms. Gandhi.

Asked why did he not aspire for the post of Chief Minister, Mr. Satyanarayana Rao said Dr. Reddy was performing well. The leadership issue was settled before the elections and he had supported him as he was the most suitable candidate to take on TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu.

To the speculation that his recent comments were aimed at getting the post of Governor, he said it was not true. He had been speaking about Telangana even when he was a Minister.

“Even otherwise, if I go as Governor, there will be byelection and you know what will happen in such an eventuality,” he said smiling and in an indirect reference to Mr. Chandrasekhara Rao winning the byelection to Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency which he had forced.

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