The Hindu : National : Telangana issue: presence of many A.P. Congress leaders in Delhi irks Sonia

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Telangana issue: presence of many A.P. Congress leaders in Delhi irks Sonia

This is not a good practice, she tells APCC president D. Srinivas

‘Ministers should visit Delhi only when summoned or on official work’
They should not waste their time here, she says

HYDERABAD: AICC president Sonia Gandhi has reportedly expressed displeasure over the presence of a large number of Congress leaders and Ministers from Andhra Pradesh in New Delhi.

She is understood to have made it clear that this was not a good practice and Ministers should visit New Delhi only when summoned or on official work. They should not waste their time here, she is reported to have told Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president D. Srinivas, when he called on her in New Delhi on Thursday. She is believed to have directed all Ministers and the party legislators to extend unflinching cooperation to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah. Talking to The Hindu, Mr. Srinivas said the AICC president had mentioned that she was very serious about restoration of normality in the State and continuation of all government programmes without any hurdles.

“I was specifically asked by her to tell all the Congressmen, Ministers and party legislators to contribute their mite in bringing back peace and tranquillity in the State,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Telangana Congress leaders comprising four Ministers, 10 MPs and legislators called on Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and other AICC leaders in New Delhi.

Sources said these leaders expressed concern over a report submitted by Governor E..S.L. Narasimhan about the scope of Maoists taking firm grip of affairs if a separate Telangana State was created.

A senior member of the delegation mentioned that the Union Home Minister repeatedly advised the leaders to ensure that peace returned to the State so that further consultations could continue. Mr. Chidambaram is said to have asked Ministers Sridhar Babu and K. Venkat Reddy to withdraw their resignations.

Firm statement sought

Later, four Ministers – Mr. Sridhar Babu, Mr. K. Venkat Reddy, P. Sudarshan Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao – met AICC general secretary M. Veerappa Moily. However, Mr. Sridhar Babu said at a press conference that the resignations would be withdrawn only after a firm statement from the Centre.

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