Nalgonda Meet to strengthen party in Telangana: AP Cong

Hyderabad, Mar 21 (UNI) Within hours after meeting AICC President Sonia Gandhi on separate Telangana, Senior Congress leaders from the region said the proposed meeting at Bhuwanagiri in Nalgonda District on March 24 was aimed at protecting the party's interests in the Telangana Region.

Senior Congress Leader and Telangana Region Development Board Chairman U Purushottam Reddy told UNI today on arrival from New Delhi the meeting was only to strengthen the party.

Asked whether the senior leaders informed Ms Gandhi about the meeting, he replied in the affirmative and expressed his happiness over the AICC President giving a patient hearing and responding positively to their views during the 90-minute meeting.

''The meeting is for the people and to protect the party's interests in Telangana Region. It is not against the Congress or its leadership,'' he clarified.

He said the senior leaders had informed Ms Gandhi the meeting was only to reassure the people of the region about the Congress' commitment to a separate state.

The High Command decided to refer the Telangana issue to the core committee of the party scheduled to be held today in New Delhi.

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