T-Cong leaders say thanks to Centre

Hyderabad,Dec 14: Congress leaders representing Telangana region on Monday hailed the Centre’s decision to initiate the process of carving out a separate state from Andhra Pradesh.Coming out of a meeting of Congress leaders from Telangana regions at Hotel Golkonda, former minister Jana Reddy told newsmen that it was a moment of joy for the people of the region as their long cherished dream was about to be fulfilled. Reddy claimed that it was the Congress government alone, which can fulfill the demand of a separate Telangana. The people’s expectations were never belied by the ruling party, he reiterated.Reddy said the meeting, which included Ministers, MLAs and MLCs from the regions thanked UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Chidambaram.

The MLAs, MLCs and Ministers urged the Centre to begin the process of bifurcation of the state at the earliest and reminded that the Congress included Telangana issue in its 2004 election manifesto.Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha also conveyed his gratitude of those who attended the meeting of students, intellectuals, doctors, lawyers and all others who participated in the agitation for a separate state. Narasimha paid homage to the students who sacrificed their lives for the cause and extended solidarity with the employees who resigned from their jobs. Their sacrifice would never be forgotten, he added.Ministers  DK Aruna, Sunita Lakshmah Reddy, Ponnala Lakshmiah , Chief Whip Bhatti Vikramarka ,Komatireddy Venkata Reddy, Jupalli Krishna Rao, Sridhar Babu, a large number of MLAs, MLCs and APCC office-bearers were present at the meeting . Notably, Home Ministers Sabita Indra Reddy, Danam  Nagender, Mukesh Goud and Nizamabad Minister  Sudershan Reddy were not present.Jana Reddy urged all the Ministers, MLAs, MLCs, elected representatives of Panchayat Raj institutions and students to participate in a Thanksgiving Programme to be organised on December 16 at the Pingle Venkat Reddy Hall.