TRS chief threatens to resign over separate statehood demand

Hyderabad, Dec 28 (ANI): Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao on Tuesday threatened that he would step down from his post if the Central Government does not present the separate state issue in the budget session of Parliament due early next year.

"All the MPs have said that if the Union Government is not going to place the bill (for creation of Telangana) in the coming budget session, we will all resign and I will also follow the suit," Rao told reporters here.

He further said that cutting across differing ideologies, the people and leaders of all parties are united for the cause of Telangana.

Earlier on Saturday, the TRS chief had said that he is ready to merge his party with the Congress if a separate Telangana state is formed.

Rao also said that he would worship Congress President Sonia Gandhi if she initiated the process of creating the state.

"If she (Sonia Gandhi) gives Telangana state hood then I would greet her and would wash her feet and worship her and we want Telangana only," Rao said.

"You have told that if Telangana will come then K. Chandrasekhara Rao will end. I am ready to end. Telangana is important," he added.

The seven-point term of reference announced by the Union Government on February 12 has mandated the Justice Srikrishna Committee to "examine the situation in Andhra Pradesh with reference to the demand for a separate state of Telangana as well as the demand for maintaining the present status of united Andhra".

The Government constituted the committee on February 3, nearly two months after it had announced that steps have been initiated for the formation of a separate state of Telangana.

The Telangana region is spread over 10 northern districts of Andhra Pradesh. (ANI)