TRS demands Cong statement on Telangana

Hyderabad, July 19 (UNI) Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) President and Union Minister for Labour and Employment K Chandrasekhara Rao today demanded that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) must announce its policy statement on Telangana statehood by August 15, if not TRS would intensify its struggle.

Speaking to newspersons here, Mr Rao said more than 450 MPs were in support of the Telangana state.

''Now with BJP passing a resolution in their national executive in support of the Telangana state, the NDA parties are also supporting the issue'', he said.

Mr Rao said the TRS had put in lot of efforts at Centre to garner the support for the Telangana issue for the past two years.

In all, 26 parties had given letters in support of the Telangana to him. ''I have submitted them to AICC President Sonia Gandhi already.

In the recent Congress Working Committee (CWC), Ms Gandhi exhorted the leaders to decide about the Telangana issue'', he added.

The TRS Chief said that if Congress party still drags the Telangana issue beyond August 15, the TRS would be forced to intensify the struggle.

He said it was high time for the Congress Party to give a logical conclusion to the Telangana issue.

''With BJP coming out openly on Telangana issue, the Congress Party should also announce its policy statement on Telangana issue by August 15'', he said.

Referring to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy's administration, Mr Rao said that as predicted by the TRS, Dr Reddy had taken up Jala Yagnam (Irrigation Initiative) only to favour Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.

He alleged that the people of the Telangana region did not benefit from the ''Jala Yagnam''. ''Once again the Telangana region was neglected by the ruling party'', he said.

Mr Rao said many political parties in the state criticised the TRS for their poor performance in recent local body elections in the state. The TRS never took the elections seriously and maintained strategic silence to support the Congress.

''Telangana was not an issue in the local body polls. We still have the potential to revive the 2001 local body poll results. Since we are in coalition with the Congress we are forced to contest from 66 places. However, from most places Congress party rebel candidates came into the fray'', he added.

UNI ASJ AJ MQA HT2012