'BJP using Telangana issue to gain mileage'

Visakhapatnam, Apr 22: Pradesh Congress Committee President K Kesava Rao today charged that the BJP, of using the separate Telangana state issue, to gain political advantage and not due to its commitment towards the welfare of the people of the region.

Mr Rao alleged that the party was changing its policies on Telangana issue. While it had passed a resolution in Kakinada party summit in favour of separate state it kept mum for six long years when it had tied up with TDP at the Centre.

They are raising the issue again now because they are out of power and need some issues to gain political mileage. This is nothing but political opportunism, he alleged.

On Mr Rao's claim that the Bill on Telangana would be presented during the winter session of the Parliament, he said it was his personal opinion.

However, Congress President Sonia Gandhi will take a final decision in the matter, he added.

On Visakhapatnam-I assembly repoll to be held on April 24, he alleged that opposition parties, mainly the Telugu Desam, were trying to vitiate the atmosphere in a bid to get the polling countermanded again and gain political mileage.

Responding to the allegations that the Congress government in the state was giving powers to Panchayat institutions in view of elections to local bodies soon, he said the state government has no ill intention of delaying the transfer of powers to Panchayat institutions.

As per the promises made by the government, the local bodies were being delegated powers in phased manner and this was being done under the Panchayat Act, he said.

UNI

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