Cong issues notices to two Andhra MPs

Ahead of the crucial January 5 meeting on the Telangana issue, the Congress continued with its effort to discipline its rebel leaders by slapping showcause notices on two MPs — L. Rajagopal, a proponent of united Andhra Pradesh, and M.G. Yaskhi, a votary of the bifurcation of the state, reports Saroj Nagi.

Ahead of the crucial January 5 meeting on the Telangana issue, the Congress continued with its effort to discipline its rebel leaders by slapping showcause notices on two MPs — L. Rajagopal, a proponent of united Andhra Pradesh, and M.G. Yaskhi, a votary of the bifurcation of the state.

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An MP from Vijaywada in the Andhra region, Rajagopal had upset the bosses by sitting on a hunger strike and handing his resignation —not to party chief Sonia Gandhi like the others — but to Lok Sabha

Speaker Meira Kumar after the Centre said on December 9 it would initiate steps to form Telangana.

Yaskhi, who hails from Telangana and represents Nizamabad, was said to be the moving force behind the resignations of MPs from the area.

Rajagopal and Yaskhi have been asked to reply within 15 days to the notice that charges them with deliberately acting against the party's interests.

The AICC cracked the whip on the duo a day after it had issued a showcause notice to IT Minister G. Venkata Reddy for “lowering the party’s dignity’’ by refusing to withdraw his resignation and criticising CM K. Rosaiah for allegedly mishandling the Telangana issue.

The issue has split the party, with the pro and anti-statehood groups arraigned against each other.

The pro-Telangana Osmania Students Joint Action Committee will hold a students rally — the Telangana Vidyarthi Garjana — on Sunday that, it claims, will be attended by five lakh students. The anti-group on Saturday said it will observe a bandh on January 5 to protest against any division of the state.