Congress MLCs defend Azad's statement

Defending the statement of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Congress MLCs on Thursday said that the Centre did not take a decision against Telangana and only delayed its announcement. 

Talking to reporters in the Assembly premises, senior leader and MLC KR Amos claimed that the Telangana issue was under the active consideration of the Centre and the Telangana Congress should observe restrain till the final decision. He said that the leaders should not insist upon one-month deadline.

Amos said that the Congress could not take direct decision on Telangana as it was part of the United Progressive Alliance. He said Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde would first submit a report on the statehood issue to the Congress High Command and then the party would take all UPA allies into confidence before making an announcement on the statehood issue. 

Similarly, AICC Secretary and MLC P Sudhakar Reddy alleged that Azad's statement was being projected in a negative manner. He warned a few Telangana Congress leaders from insulting the High Command over Azad's statement. He said such statements would send wrong signals among other parties.