Sonia Gandhi must decide on Telangana statehood soon: Upendra

Vijayawada, Dec 20 (UNI) Senior Congress leader and former union minister P Upendra today said Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi should soon take a firm decision on the issue of separate Telangana state.

Talking to newspersons here, the former Information and Broadcasting minister said in the present circumstances, the strong sentiments of the people of Telangana region who want a separate state should be addressed before taking a decision on statehood.

He said however, the issue was left to Ms Gandhi. Congress leaders would support her decision on the issue.

He said he was in favour of setting up a committee to address issues like sharing of river waters and property before Telangana was carved out as seperate state.

Criticising the Left parties of ''playing hide and seek on the withdrawal of support to UPA govrnment'' on the nuclear issue, he said despite the threat to the UPA, he did not forsee the Left withdrawing support as the leaders in West Bengal were against a mid-term poll at this juncture.

The Left parties were creating a scare over the nuclear deal, he alleged, adding nuclear power was essential for the country's future and refuted the remarks that the country would go under US control. Their criticism was not relevant, he added.

UNI