NDA to raise Telangana statehood issue in monsoon session

New Delhi, Jul 28: Opposition NDA will raise the Telangana statehood demand during the Monsoon session of Parliament and would ask the UPA to fulfil its promise of initiating steps for creation of a separate state.

The assurance was given by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and NDA convener Sharad Yadav to a delegation of leaders and activists from Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh.

The delegation led by senior BJP leader Bandaru Dattatreya and Telangana Joint Action Committee convenor Kodandaram met Swaraj and Yadav and apprised them of the situation in the state.

"We told Swaraj what is happening in Andhra Pradesh, especially in the Telangana region and she promised us that she will surely raise the issue during the forthcoming session," Dattatreya told PTI after the meeting.

He said Swaraj is planning to give Calling Attention notice to raise the issue. "She assured us that the issue will be highlighted in Parliament. She also told us that the BJP would expose the Congress' motives on the issue," he said.

Dattatreya said the Centre should go by its December 9, 2009 statement in which it said the steps for creation of a Telangana state would be initiated.

He said Yadav also assured them that JD(U) would raise the issue in Parliament and pressurise the Centre to immediately announce formation of a separate state.

PTI