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Thursday, Dec 24, 2009
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“Telangana issue put in cold storage”

Special Correspondent

Several TRS, Congress and Praja Rajyam MPs, MLAs and MLCs quit in protest

ACTION AND REACTION: Supporters of Telangana attack a bus in Hyderabad on Wednesday. (Right) A large posse of police was deployed on the Osmania University campus in the wake of the Telangana agitation. - PHOTOS: AP/G. KRISHNASWAMY

HYDERABAD: Several TRS, Congress and Praja Rajyam MPs, MLAs and MLCs have resigned accusing the Centre of putting in “cold storage” the formation of Telangana State.

Announcing that more than 30 public representatives had resigned, TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao said that he had faxed his resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker. His colleague in the Lok Sabha, Vijayashanti too put in her papers.

Mr. Rao drove down to senior Congress MLA K. Jana Reddy’s residence to participate in an urgently-called meeting and announced the formation of a joint action committee (JAC) of public representatives to take the struggle for separate statehood forward. He also called for a 48-hour bandh in the region from Thursday.

‘Statement vague’

Addressing a joint press conference, Mr. Rao, Mr. Jana Reddy and Praja Rajyam MLA Anil, said the “vague” statement of Mr. Chidambaram appeared to put on hold formation of Telangana. They pointed out that no time-frame was fixed for the wide-ranging consultations as mentioned by the Home Minister and it could even take 50 years.

They said the people of Telangana have been once again deceived and betrayed by Mr. Chidambaram’s statement. He said Telangana region’s public representatives ranging from MPTC members to MPs and MLAs, of all parties, keeping aside their party affiliations, would meet on Thursday morning and submit their resignations. Subsequently, the JAC of public representatives would chalk out an action programme.

They also accused the government of acting partially by imposing sections 30 and 144 of IPC all over Telangana, while it had allowed bus yatras of Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi and Telugu Desam leaders in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema. They demanded Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to immediately withdraw the restrictions and warned that government would face a “volatile situation” otherwise.

They appealed to the people, particularly students and youth, to observe the bandh peacefully. They urged students not to succumb to emotions and make suicide attempts.

Timeframe sought

Mr. Jana Reddy urged the Centre to reconsider its decision and announce clearly that Telangana formation would be done in a time-bound manner.

Claiming that the TDP legislators, E. Dayakar Rao and L. Ramana have resigned, they invited them to join the JAC. Leaders from BJP and CPI have expressed solidarity with the JAC, they said.

Meanwhile, State BJP unit after an emergency meeting of its office-bearers called for a 24-hour bandh in protest against Mr. Chidambaram’s statement. State BJP president Bandaru Dattatreya accused Congress party of indulging in deceit and playing with the sentiments of Telangana people.

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