Cong may invite TRS chief to Delhi

The Congress high command is likely to invite Telangana Rastra Samiti leader K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is on a hunger strike, for discussing the statehood issue in Delhi. See popup

The Congress high command is likely to invite Telangana Rastra Samiti leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who is on a hunger strike, for discussing the statehood issue in Delhi.See popup

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The softening of the party’s stand came immediately after doctors at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) said the protein level in Rao’s body was dangerously low and it might affect his vital organs in 24 hours.

There is fear that if Rao’s condition worsens, there could be large-scale violence in the Telangana region. Saturday’s violence after TV channels said Rao had gone into a coma was only a prequel to what could come.

On Tuesday in Delhi, almost all the 12 Congress MPs from Telangana met Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily, who is

also in charge of the party affairs in Andhra Pradesh.

Congress sources said on condition of anonymity that Moily asked them to come out with their opinions so that the party could have a common stand on the issue.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah will visit New Delhi on Wednesday, although he said his visit was primarily to greet Congress President Sonia Gandhi on her birthday.

The all-party meeting called by Rosaiah on Monday ended inconclusively, with the Congress maintaining that any decision on the issue was left to the high command.

The TRS politburo that allowed Rao to go on hunger strike also scrambled into action on Tuesday, mobilising opinion to force Rao to call off the fast.

A senior leader and TRS ideologue, Jayashankar, spoke to Rosaiah, seeking a way out of the impasse. Now, the state government and Rao’s advisors are working on a package which, without conceding much ground, will be a face-saver for Rao.