Hyderabad: Hitting out at the ruling Congress for not coming out with a favourable decision on the separate Telangana demand, TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao today alleged that the Centre lacked even the basic concern for the people of the region.
“Telangana demand has been there since 1966. It has been raised consistently. What further consultations, they will hold? How many committees, meetings have been organised for taking a decision?,” he said, speaking at the conclusion of a 36-hour-long ‘samar diksha’ protest here this evening.
Rao’s comments came a day after the Centre and Congress deferred the decision on Telangana saying that “further consultations” which will take a “little more time” are needed to arrive at a final decision on the issue.
“Even the ‘chaprasis’ (peons) in Delhi used to wish me by saying ‘Jai Telangana’. But Centre did not have that concern. Is there a strike organised elsewhere, like the one (over 40-day-long) we had held?..Still, the Centre did not move. Is this the democracy?…Three generations of Congress leadership, from Pandit Nehru to Sonia, have betrayed Telangana”, he claimed.
Reiterating that he was recently called to Delhi for talks on the issue, the TRS chief maintained that Congress did not accept the separate statehood demand even though he had offered to merge his party with it.
A massive protest like ‘Chalo Assembly’ with thousands of people will be organised whenever next Assembly session is held, he said.
On the future course of action, the TRS chief said the Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) will chalk out the future plan after consulting its constituents.
Lashing out at the ministers hailing from Telangana for not agreeing to quit their posts to mount pressure on Centre, Rao alleged that they only hankered for power.
Reacting to the development, Congress spokesman Rashid Alvi said in Delhi,”Party never comments on a court order. We respect the order of any court, higher or lower…. The Union Ministers have said nothing which is objectionable. Neither Shinde nor Chidambaram have said any such thing which is objectionable.”
Seeking to justify Government and Congress buying more time to settle the vexed issue, he said that there was nothing wrong if government is contemplating to consult some more leaders.
Noting that the Telanagana issue is “very sensitive and emotional”, he asked “Where is the question of mistake? What is wrong if government is taking few more days? A decision will be taken at an appropriate time. As early as possible.
“It is a commitment of party and the government and heavens will not fall if it is delayed by a day or two. We have to take a decision on Telangana by consulting all stakeholders.”
