The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Congress leaders to meet Sonia today

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Thursday, Mar 20, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Congress leaders to meet Sonia today

Special Correspondent

Ahmed Patel makes phone call to invite Venkatswamy

HYDERABAD: In the backdrop of their proposed public meeting in support of separate Telangana at Bhongir on March 24, senior Congress leaders from the region have been invited for a meeting with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday.

Telangana Planning and Development Board chairman Vuppunuthala Purshotham Reddy, who is in the forefront of leaders behind the Bhongir event, told reporters on Wednesday that the Congress Working Committee member G. Venkatswamy received a telephone call from Ms. Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel inviting them for the meeting.

Despite the invitation, Mr. Reddy made it clear that the Bhongir meeting would be held as per schedule, irrespective of the outcome in New Delhi and even if Ms. Sonia Gandhi asks them to call it off.

He said he did not expect Ms. Gandhi to put forth such a proposal as the public meeting was intended to strengthen the Congress and display the groundswell in support for separate Telangana.

Historic occasion

Over ten leaders including himself, Mr. Venkatswamy and former Minister M. Satyanaryana Rao, would call on Ms. Gandhi and return on Thursday evening.

Mr. Reddy said arrangements were being made to make the meeting a historic occasion with unprecedented turnout. Congress leaders, including those who did not fall in line with them, would be invited as it was basically a party programme.

He also said meetings of this nature were not held with the prior permission of the All India Congress Committee in the past.

The party would stand to lose if it was not organised at this juncture.

The meeting assumed significance in the background of a majority population in Telangana demanding separate statehood.

The party had to bow to popular demand. Asked if their meeting with Ms. Gandhi could be viewed in the context of denial of an appointment for them with her in January,

Mr. Reddy said they were different.

They had to blame themselves for failing to secure appointment last time due to a mix-up. This time round, it was an invitation from her.

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