Cong MP to Centre: withdraw cases against Telangana activists

Welcoming Home Minister P Chidambaram's invitation to major political parties in Andhra Pradesh for discussions on Telangana issue, a senior Congress MP Thursday appealed to the Centre to withdraw all cases pending against students involved in agitation for a separate state.

Welcoming Home Minister P Chidambaram's invitation to major political parties in Andhra Pradesh for discussions on Telangana issue, a senior Congress MP Thursday appealed to the Centre to withdraw all cases pending against students involved in agitation for a separate state.

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Rajya Sabha MP from Telangana region V Hanumantha Rao congratulated Chidambaram for inviting leaders of the eight recognised political parties to discuss the demand for a separate statehood on January 5.

In a letter to the Home Minister, Rao said the students who are agitating for the creation of a separate state of Telangana have welcomed the move.

"My worry is that there are many cases filed against these poor students which may affect their future prospects and become a worry for their parents," he said.

"I therefore request you to kindly issue instructions for withdrawal of all cases pending against the students in the area during this agitation," Rao said in the letter.

He said the gesture on the part of the Government will create a cordial atmosphere and infuse mutual faith between the parties concerned.

Earlier in the day Chidambaram, while referring to the two statements he had made on Dec 9 and Dec 23, dismissed the charge of "flip-flop" on the part of Centre on Telangana issue and said the January 5 meeting is to devise a "mechanism and roadmap" on resolving the problem.