Cong to observe bandh in Telangana region on Apr 21

Hyderabad, Apr 19 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has called for a bandh on April 21 in five districts of Telangana Region protesting against the illegal construction of Babli project by the Maharashtra Government.

An emergency meeting by the party's headquarters, Gandhi Bhavan here chaired by APCC President K Keshava Rao decided to observe the bandh in Nizamabad, Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Nalgonda districts of Telangana region.

Mr Rao said Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had insulted the people of Andhra by stating that the Maharashtra Government would go ahead with the construction of Babli project.

He said the five districts of Nizamabad, Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Nalgonda would be affected by construction of Babli project and the Maharashtra Government was not heeding the Central Water Commission and the Centre's advice.

He said the Congress party belonged to the people and the party would honour their sentiments.

The Congress would fight legally and politically to stop the construction of the project by the Maharashtra Government, he said.

He also alleged that the Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had politicised the issue though the state government had been taking all steps to stop the construction.

State Ministers Mohd Shabbir Ali, Ponnala Lakshmayya and G Vinod, V Hanumantha Rao, G Venkataswamy (MPs), MLAs and other leaders from Telangana region attended the meeting.

UNI