The Hindu : Front Page : Goud decries ‘personal attack’

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Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008
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Goud decries ‘personal attack’

Special Correspondent

Peddi Reddy “strongly in favour” of separate Telangana

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam leaders, T. Devender Goud and E. Peddi Reddy, invoked separate Telangana and the party’s failure in respecting the sentiments of the people of the region, for resigning from the party.

In their resignation letters that ran into three and two pages respectively, Mr. Goud and Mr. Reddy explained in detail, how they were forced into a situation where they had no other option but to quit.

Mr. Goud started off his letter praising party president N. Chandrababu Naidu for the key role he played in national politics and modernising the State and thanking him for giving various opportunities to serve the people. But in the later part, he criticised him bitterly for failing to properly gauge the mood of the people in Telangana and allowing senior leaders to attack him.

He argued that ever since it was born, TDP got better patronage in Telangana than in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. But when the self-respect and constitutional rights of the people of the region were being undermined by the Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s government, he wondered if leaders of the region should remain quiet and helpless.

“I wanted to do my bit to expose the government’s conspiracy and deception on Telangana but instead of supporting me, self-centred and opportunistic leaders were unleashed on me to mount a personal attack. Are you not aware that in politics, people’s interest is more important than self- interest?”

Appearing hurt by the campaign that he was raking up Telangana issue to become Chief Minister, he said: “After Independence, Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, Damodaram Sanjivayya, K. Vijayabhaskara Reddy, you and now Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy hailing from Rayalaseema region having four districts could become Chief Ministers but when people and leaders of Telangana fight for their rights it was being ridiculed as if their sole aim was for the Chief Minister’s post. Does it not expose political double standards and smack of arrogance?”

He expressed disappointment at the way the party changed its stand soon after the byelections and that it was such adhocism and injustice to the region that he was forced to quit.

In his letter, Mr. Peddi Reddy who was general secretary of the party, said he had merely suggested how the party could come out of the Telangana imbroglio and put the Congress in a spot. This could be done by changing the composition of the core committee and declaring support to the bill on Telangana as and when it comes before the Parliament.

But he was at a loss to understand why other party leaders were made to attack him for his suggestion and even raise the demand for disciplinary action. “ I am hurt by such attacks”. Mr. Reddy made it clear that he strongly favoured separate Telangana, “ as a leader of the region and having known the people for the last 40 years”.

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