P Chidambaram apologises for loss of lives during Telangana statehood agitation

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday apologised for the loss of lives during the Telangana statehood agitation, drawing sharp reactions from the ruling BRS.

Hyderabad, Nov 16: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday apologised for the loss of lives during the Telangana statehood agitation, drawing sharp reactions from the ruling BRS.

Chidambaram expresses regret

Speaking to media persons here, the former Union minister also said creating a state or dividing a state was not child's play and it was done in response to the people's movement. Reacting to Chidambaram's remarks, BRS leader and Minister K T Rama Rao said it was already too late.

BRS reacts

Describing suicide as an unfortunate incident, Chidambaram said, "If in the people's movement some persons lost their lives in the agitation... we are sorry for that. But you can't hold the then central government responsible for that."

He was responding to the accusation of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao that the previous UPA government had delayed the formation of Telangana resulting in the loss of lives.

Chidambaram blames KCR

The Congress veteran further said Telangana was formed in response to the people's movement. In a post on Twitter, BRS working president Rama Rao said, "Too late and Too little Chidambaram Ji.. Your party is solely responsible for taking the lives of hundreds of Telangana youngsters from 1952-2014. No matter how hard you try now, people of Telangana will always remember the brutalities Congress perpetrated on us."

Chidambaram, however, alleged that over 4,000 suicides were reported in Telangana under K Chandrasekhar Rao-led BRS government and sought to know who was responsible for it. "A state is created after a movement like original Andhra Pradesh was created. A state is divided in response to the people's movement. If some lives have been lost we are sorry for that. But what about the 4,000 odd suicides in Telangana under KCR's government. Who is responsible for those suicides?" he asked.

Chidambaram defends Congress

During his poll rallies, Rao had charged Congress with delaying the formation of Telangana. Though the previous UPA government agreed to the formation of Telangana after he began an indefinite fast, it went back on its word. Later, the UPA government fulfilled its promise only after massive protests, he had claimed. Rao also blamed the Congress for the deaths during the statehood agitation and said the Congress delayed its approval for a new state.

Chidambaram further said Rao emerged as a prominent leader of that movement and that is why he is the Chief Minister today. "I hope KCR is not saying that the people have nothing to do with that and I got Telangana... I hope he is not saying that and if he is saying that then people will answer him in the elections," he said.

Chidambaram recalls history

The former Union Minister recalled that it was after a great amount of work and persuasion that the Congress agreed to carve out Telangana and an announcement to this effect was made on December 9, 2009, following which Chandrasekhar Rao called off his fast. "He (KCR) profusely thanked us. But, another agitation broke out. And Justice Srikrishna Commission was appointed, which gave six recommendations. Ultimately, the Congress party and the government in the Centre agreed to divide united Andhra Pradesh into Telangana and AP," he added.

To a query on KCR's statement that the Congress merged Telangana with Andhra Pradesh earlier in 1956, against the will of the people here, Chidambaram said, "I think Chandrasekhar Rao is not a particularly good student of history. How was Andhra Pradesh formed? A large part of Andhra Pradesh was part of Madras presidency. And there was Hyderabad state. There was a massive movement for creating a Telugu speaking state and that is how a single Andhra Pradesh was formed bringing together all Telugu speaking people and all Telugu speaking regions of this part of India, he said.

TRS hits back

In his response, Telangana Finance Minister T Harish Rao in a post on Twitter, said, "Congress leader Chidambaram's comment is like a murderer expressing condolences. Youth sacrificed their lives during the agitation because of Chidambaram going back on his statement about the formation of Telangana."

The apology by Chidambaram has sparked a political slugfest between the Congress and the ruling BRS in Telangana. With the state going to polls next year, the issue is likely to heat up the political discourse in the coming days.