Cong says it's not opposed to Telangana

With Telangana statehood issue hotting up, Congress today sought to mollify those agitating for separate statehood by maintaining that it has not been against the creation of smaller states including Telangana.

With Telangana statehood issue hotting up, Congress today sought to mollify those agitating for separate statehood by maintaining that it has not been against the creation of smaller states including Telangana.

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On a day when 10 party MPs and 39 of its MLAs, including 11 ministers, from the region resigned from Parliament and Andhra Pradesh Assembly, Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed dismissed suggestions that the development would reduce the UPA coalition at the Centre into a minority.

At the same time, Ahmed steered clear of all questions on the seperate statehood issue noting that it was "very sentimantal and very emotional." "We do hope an appropriate decision will be taken at an appropriate time", was his refrain including whether the resigantions of the legislators was an act of indiscipline and whether the leadership was worried and if it meant the failure of the party and the government on the ticklish issue.

"From the beginning, we have not been against smaller states including Telangana", he said adding there was no question of the UPA coalition being reduced to a minority on the issue. He dismissed BJP's criticism in the matter saying the opposition party has always resorted to "doublespeak" on the Telangana issue.