The Hindu : National : Telangana leaders apprise Sonia of ground situation

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Telangana leaders apprise Sonia of ground situation

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: After meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday, senior party leaders from the Telangana region told a press conference that their proposed public meeting at Bhongir on March 24 would take place as scheduled.

Vuppunuthala Purshotham Reddy chided reporters for repeatedly quizzing him on whether the March 24 public meeting was on. “Why ask us this question when we are again and again telling you that the meeting is going to take place.”

“Mission successful” was Mr. Reddy’s first comment after emerging from the room at senior Congress leader G. Venkatswamy’s residence – where the delegation which met Ms. Gandhi closeted itself immediately after the meeting at 10 Janpath.

Mr. Reddy said the delegation told Ms. Gandhi that the Telangana region should be given separate statehood. He rejected observations from within the party that holding a public meeting for Telangana against the wishes of the high command was tantamount to indiscipline.

Others in the delegation said Ms. Gandhi was told that the Congress would lose in Andhra Pradesh in the next Lok Sabha elections if Telangana was not given statehood. The members apparently briefed her in detail about the Telangana movement and pointed out that the people of the region were losing patience with the Congress for delaying a decision.

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