BJP calls on like-minded parties to unite for Telangana

New Delhi, Oct.10 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has asked all "like-minded parties" in Andhra Pradesh to unite for the creation of a separate Telangana state.

"The party would like to call upon all like-minded parties favouring a separate Telangana to unite and fight for the cause together. This is not a new call. It has been our open invitation since long," party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters at New Delhi on Friday.

TDP was an ally of BJP till 2004 and was supporting the Vajpayee-led government from outside. However, the party left the alliance in post-election scenario questioning the secular credentials of BJP.

The TDP leadership has indicated it is keen to align with Left parties and TRS in upcoming Lok Sabha polls and that its not in favour of going with its their erstwhile saffron ally.

The saffron party is in the lookout for an alliance partner in Andhra Pradesh and is understood to be exploring possibilities with "Praja Rajyam" party floated by cine-star Chiranjeevi.

The party also raised objection to the appointment of Amar Singh as a member of the National Integration Council (NIC).

"It is unfortunate that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has appointed a person to the NIC, who is working as a force of disintegration in the country and creating a divide in the society by his shameful and thoughtless utterances," said spokesperson Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi on Friday.

He alleged that Amar Singh was involved in glorifying terrorists and in raising doubts over the sacrifice of police officer like M C Sharma, who died fighting terrorists in the Jamia Nagar encounter here.

"The appointment of such a person has come as a shock, one who glorifies terrorists, certifies suspects as innocents and raises doubts over the great sacrifice of Inspector M C Sharma in the Jamia Nagar encounter," Javadekar told reporters.

ANI