''No move to dilute Telangana stir of Congress leaders''

Hyderabad, Jan 17 (PTI) Asserting that their commitmentto separate Telangana is unwavering, Congress MPs fromTelangana region today said there is no move to dilute theongoing separate statehood agitation by offering politicalpostings to Telangana leaders.

"There is no move or proposal to pacify or dilute theTelangana agitation or leaders by offering them Cabinet berthsor any other posts. There is no compromise in our fight forseparate Telangana," Congress MP Ponnam Prabhakar toldreporters here after a meeting of party MPs from Telangana.

He dismissed media reports that there is a move to pacifythe Telangana leaders and agitators by offering key postingsto those from the region.

The continuation of D Srinivas as state Congresspresident, the possible Union Cabinet expansion or thereported move by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to appointa reputed Telangana lawyer as Advocate General are not aimedat cooling the tempers of the Telangana agitators, Prabhakarsaid.

"Formation of separate Telangana is our goal and ouractivity would go to any extent for that. Congress party ismulling ways to clear the way for formation of Telangana. Theydon''t want to prolong the matter. Telangana Congress MPs, MLAsare only trying to strengthen the party," he said. (More) PTISJR VKV

Congress MP from Nalgonda G Sukhender Reddy told PTI that the meeting discussed the two meetings the Telangana CongressMPs had with the high command earlier and the road ahead.

"We discussed what to say in our next meeting with thetop leaders. We felt that we should stick to our stand(nothing short of separate Telangana)," he said.

Interestingly, Reddy has made a proposal to the Congresstop leaders to divide Andhra Pradesh into three separatestates - Telangana, Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra.

"I have given a proposal in writing to the top leaders.

One of the main hurdles for the formation of Telangana is theincompatibility and apprehensions between coastal Andhra andRayalaseema regions. So, I suggested that Andhra Pradesh canbe divided into three parts. That is an amicable solution tothe problem," Reddy said.

The contentious issues are the share of river waters andsafety of "settlers" in Hyderabad in the event of formation ofseparate Telangana and they can be addressed by putting inplace a mechanism for water-sharing and Hyderabad can be thecommon capital for the three proposed states for some years,he said.

The proposal made by him is being studied by the highcommand, Reddy added.