Etela to entice T-Cong leaders into JAC

Telangana Rashtra Samithi Floor Leader Etela Rajender on Friday sought to entice the Congress leaders from Telangana to join the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee by telling them that the Centre was intent on delaying taking a decision on the separate statehood demand.

Talking to media persons at Assembly Media Point, Mr Rajender said that the statement by Congress Core Committee member Pranab Mukherjee at a meeting between him and the Telangana MPs late on Thursday night was nothing but one another bid to buy time.

Mr Mukherjee had reportedly told the Telangana MPs that the six-decade-old Telangana statehood issue was so tangled, that former prime ministers Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and PV Narasimha Rao had failed to address it.

Mr Mukherjee is also reported to have told the Telangana MPs that, considering its sensitivity, finding a solution needed more time and every step that has to be taken would have to be given very careful consideration. Responding to these reports, Mr Rajender condemned Mr Mukherjee’s statements and said that they are ‘unwarranted and uncalled for’.

The TRS Floor Leader in the state Assembly said that Mr Mukherjee, despite his decades of experience in the political field, was making such ‘unfortunate’ statements instead of addressing the problem.

He called upon all Telangana elected representatives to join the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee, thus mounting pressure on the Centre with their collective efforts towards forming separate Telangana state.

“At least now, all elected representatives from Telangana region should take the statement issued by Eluru MP Kavuri Sambhasiva Rao as a challenge and resign to their posts. This alone would be the start to the ultimate goal of fulfilling the aspirations of people,” Mr Rajender stated.

He also alleged that Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu for adopting double standards on Telangana issue. “Mr Naidu should be careful that he does not end up losing both his eyes, (Seemandhra and Telangana) since his penchant for double standards on bifurcation of state issue,” may land him up in no man’s land, the TRS leader stated.

Reacting on the speculation that TRS MPs K Chandrasekhar Rao and Vijayashanthi would resign from the Lok Sabha, Mr Rajender stated that this is not official as yet. “If indeed they have taken the decision, I am not aware of it,” he said. He added that if the leaders had resorted to resigning, it would be understandable as the Centre has failed to do justice to the demand of separate Telangana state and people’s aspirations.