Statehood stir: Telangana Cong MPs threaten indefinite fast

Hyderabad, Oct 8: Seeking to mount pressure on the Centre towards acepting the demand for separate statehood, Telangana Congress MPs today (Oct 8) threatened to join the ongoing agitation and go on an indefinite fast.

"If there is no positive response from the Centre we plan to take up fast-unto-death for achieving our goal in consultations with the leaders of other parties and the people's organisations," Congress MP Madhu Yashik Goud told reporters here after a meeting of party MPs from the region.

Noting that the Telangana Congress MPs have been making efforts towards achieving the separate state goal, Congress MP M Jaganndham said they would launch 'direct action' like indefinite fast as culmination of such efforts. Highlighting the need for accepting the demand, they want the Centre to announce a road map for formation of the separate state quickly.

"The Governor, Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, PCC President and former PCC President who have been called to Delhi should explain to the Central leadership about the need for accepting the demand. This is a historical occasion when all sections of people are participating in the ongoing strike," Congress MP Ponnam Prabhakar said.

Top Congress leaders have begun consultations on the telangana issue since yesterday and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy Deputy Chief Minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha, State Congress President Botsa Satyanarayana and former PCC President D Srinivas have been summoned to Delhi for taking part in the consultations which are continuing today.

PTI