Telangana issue dominates Congress session in AP

Hyderabad, Jan 4 (UNI) The issue of granting statehood to the Telangana region dominated the proceedings in the brainstorming meeting of the ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh today.

AICC General Secretary and in charge of Andhra affairs Digvijay Singh made it clear at the two-day 'Medho Madhanam' that the second States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) should be formed to look into demands for creation of new states including Telangana.

Party leaders from Telangana and Andhra regions urged the party high command to take an early decision on the issue.

Madhu Yaskhi Goud, MP from Nizamabad, said the high command should take an early decision in view of aspirations of Telangana people.

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao maintained that any further delay in deciding on the issue would cost the party very dearly. Congress MP from Andhra region K Sambhasiva Rao also felt that the party should not be indecisive as it would send a wrong signal to the people.

'It will be better if the state was divided without giving room for violence,' he said.

Another Congress leader from Andhra region B Vedavyas felt Hyderabad was developed with the combined efforts of people from all over the state. The status of Hyderabad should be first decided before any decision was taken on statehood.

G Prakash Rao, senior leader from Telangana, said though he was for statehood for Telangana, the party had not done well in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh where new states were created.

Another Andhra region leader G Venkat Reddy said the state should remain united as envisaged by the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The discussions remained inconclusive.

UNI