'Andhra govt misleading Cong high command on T-issue'

, April 30: Five

MPs from

, agitating inside the Parliament complex since Monday, alleged that the

government is misleading the party high command on the Telangana issue. "High command is being misled by the chief minister and the leaders from Seemandhra. They are telling the high command that there is no agitation going on in Telangana.

"Unfortunately these leaders are misguiding them," party MP G Vivekananda said as the MPs continued their 48-hour sit-in at Parliament House gate on the Telangana issue. The agitation began yesterday at 11 AM. Senior Congress leader K Keshav Rao, who met the five MPs, said the protest is being held in this manner as they are "hurt" by the government's delaying tactics on the Telangana issue.

"The party and government had promised formation of Telangana. Almost all parties have pledged in their election manifestos that separate Telangana will be carved out (of Andhra Pradesh). But nothing is done. We are doing this because we are deeply hurt. We are really not happy," Keshav Rao said. Gutha Sukhender Reddy, Manda Jagannatham, Ponnam Prabhakar, G Vivekananda and Siricilla Rajaiah were seen carrying placards which read "48 hours diksha for achieving Telangana" and "Give Telangana and Save Democracy".

Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury called for "restraint" on the Telangana issue, saying that the matter is being examined by the government. "We do not have the luxury of some regional parties (which they have on the issue). It is a contentious issue. I want to tell to my friends from Telangana...please show a little restraint. The government is looking into it," she said.

Asked if they have received any message from the Congress high command or the government, one of the agitating Congress MPs said Ahmed Patel, political secretary of Sonia Gandhi, saw them from a distance.

PTI