Statehood for Telangana not possible through lobby:CPI

Hyderabad, May 26 (UNI) In the light of the recent developments on separate Telangana issue, the Andhra Pradesh unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) today said separate statehood for Telangana would not be possible through lobbying.

Addressing a press conference at Makhdoom bhavan here, Party National Council secretary and MP Suravaram Reddy said separate statehood for Telangana would become a reality only through people's movement.

He stressed the need for immediate sanction of Rs 10,000 crore special package by the Centre to Telangana, implementation of GO 610 and reopening of the closed industrial units to render justice to the region.

Asserting that the CPI believed that the 'real development' would be possible only if the Centre agreed to these demands, he said the party had already represented to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA sub-committee on Telangana headed by Union Minister Pranab Mukherjee requesting special package for the region.

Mr Reddy said the party also requested Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy for constitution of regional committees in the state and the latter had responded positively on the issue.

Asked about the remarks of APCC Chief K Keshava Rao that other parties should make efforts to convince the Left parties on the Telangana issue, the CPI leader refused to comment on it.

The party's stand was very clear on the issue (separate Telangana), and it would strive to get a special package for the region besides implementation of 610 GO, he added.

Party state council secretary Dr K Narayana, replying to a question asserted that the CPI would have an electoral understanding only with the Congress and not with other parties, particularly with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti in the coming panchayat elections.

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