Congress wont not support Private Bill on Telanagana: Digvijay

Karimnagar, Andhra Pradasesh, Nov 22 (UNI) All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Digvijay Singh today said the party would not support the Private Bill on creation of statehood for Telangana as proposed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Addressing a meeting of the Backward Classes here, he said a separate Telangana state can not be realised by a Private Bill and it would be achieved only by consensus.

He, however, said the Congress was not against the creation of separate Telananga. It had already appointed a Sub-committe headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

The Congress had been trying for a consensus with all major political parties on the Telangana issue, he said. Congress President Sonia Gandhi would take a decision at an appropriate time, he added.

He said the Andhra Pradesh government was committed to development of Telangana the region and implementing the GO 610 to provide employment to the locals.

Mr Singh said the Centre was trying to protect the interests of Beedi workers in the state. He claimed that Telanagana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President and former Union Labour Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao was responsible for the including the warning logo of skull and bones on each beedi packet.

He said in view of the present agitation on the issue, the Centre was reviewing whether to retain the logo or remove it. He hoped that the Centre would take a decision after the elections.

Later, addressing a press conference, he said the Congress had nothing to do with the seizure of cricket kits and cash meant for alleged distribution in the Karimnagar byelection.

He alleged that it was a 'plot' hatched by TRS leaders, including Siddipet MLA Harish Rao, to malign the Congress. ''Mr Harish Rao was the ''Director, actor and producer'' of the drama,'' he alleged.

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