Damodar Reddy lashes out at PC for 'overnight' statement

Expressing his dismay at the words of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram that the separate statehood issue cannot be solved overnight, former Congress minister Ramreddy Damodar Reddy on Wednesday wondered how much more time would the Centre need to take a decision, considering that the Justice Srikrishna Committee had submitted its Report on the future of the state.

Talking to media persons, the former minister termed Mr Chidambaram’s statement as ‘unfortunate’ and demanded that the Union Home Minister announce the exact date for the next all-party conclave on the issue immediately.

Mr Chidambaram had on Tuesday stated that he would convene the all-party meeting only after he is assured that all the eight major political parties in Andhra Pradesh were ready to express their opinion and no one would boycott the conclave. Mr Chidambaram had also said that the issue was a contentious one and an overnight decision could not be taken.

Responding to these words today, Mr Damodar Reddy stated, “How many more days does he need to address the Telangana statehood demand, despite the submission of Justice Srikrishna Committee Report long back.”

The former minister continued, “Mr Chidambaram should clarify the meaning of the word ‘overnight’. He must make clear how many days does one night make, according to his consideration.”

He made it clear the Union Home Minister should not test the patience of Telangana people. “The people of the region would intensify their agitation if the Centre delays taking a decision much further,” Mr Damodar Reddy stated. The people of the state would hold the governments, both state and Central, responsible for matters getting out of hand, the former minister continued.

The Congress leader from Telangana further went on that the leaders from Seemandhra regions were becoming increasingly rattled by the intensified agitation in favour of bifurcating Andhra Pradesh. This has galvanized them to restart the ‘united Andhra’ campaign.

This, he said, was nothing but an attempt to end the Telangana agitation.

Mr Damodar Reddy also lashed out at former minister JC Diwakar Reddy, MP Kavuri Sambhasiva Rao and TDP leaders for their attempts to scuttle the separate statehood agitation and further delaying the formation of Telangana.

“If Seemandra leaders attempt to block the formation of separate Telangana state, they will face serious consequences in Hyderabad,” he warned.