T TDP accuse Governor of being integrationist, demand removal

The Telugu Desam Party Leaders from Telangana on Friday termed Governor ESL Narasimhan of being anti-Telangana and demanded that he be recalled from the state.

Staging a protest at the Raj Bhavan, the T TDP leaders alleged that Mr Narasimhan was acting against the interests of the people of Telangana and was favouring the integrationists.

For the first time, the Telangana TDP leaders targeted the Governor after the submission of Justice B N Srikrishna Commission recommendations alleging he was showing favour to integration of state.

Raising `Governor Go back’ slogans  the protesting leaders  demanded that the Centre immediately introduce a Bill on Telangana in Parliament during budget session, while the state government should withdraw the Central Paramilitary Forces from the Osmania University campus and curbs on the media be lifted.

The police broke up the protest by arresting the protestors who were led by the TDP’s Telangana face, Nagam Janardhan Reddy. They were shifted to a nearby police station.

The T TDP leaders had earlier in the day confabulated at the New MLA Quarters where they decided that the best way forward for them would be to put pressure on the Congress over the contentious issue, and also on their own party leadership to take a pro-Telangana stance.

The Telangana Telugu Desam Forum MLAs condemned the statements of other party leaders and spreading rumours that TDP was against bifurcation of the state.

The Forum leaders said that TDP president N Chandrababau Naidu was not against Telangana state formation and he had made his views clear in the party manifesto also.

Condemning the statements of BJP, TRS and Congress leaders, the members said the parties targeting Mr Naidu have no spine and real commitment over the issue.