'Cong committed to seperate Telangana state'

Sangareddy (Andhra Pradesh), Oct 23: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today asserted that the Congress was committed to its promise of seperate Telangana state as assured in its election manifesto and the UPA's Common Minimum Programme.

Talking to newspersons during his tour of Medak district, Dr Reddy said however, the decision had been left to AICC Chief Sonia Gandhi.

He termed the decision of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhara Rao to resign his Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat and seek re-election naming the by-poll as referemdum on the formation of Telangana state, as ''wrong''.

''It was also wrong on the part of the TRS chief to say that the Congress was 'buying' its leaders. If TRS leaders were joining the Congress, it was because they were attracted by the policies of the party for the development of the Telangana region and not for any monitary benefits,'' he asserted.

Meanwhile, APCC Chief Dr K Keshava Rao claimed that Mr Chandrasekhara Rao was suffering from fear of defeat in the impending by-election to the Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat.

"I will be happy if Mr Chandrasekhara Rao stood in the second place,'' he said, asserting that he would finish a poor last.

UNI