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Parties set deadline for Centre
A grouping of political parties from Telangana on Saturday set an ultimatum for the Centre, asking it to announce a time-frame by Monday for the formation of the separate state.
A grouping of political parties from Telangana on Saturday set an ultimatum for the Centre, asking it to announce a time-frame by Monday for the formation of the separate state.
“We will wait till Monday evening for the Centre’s announcement, failing which there will be an indefinite bandh in the entire region from Tuesday,” Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao said after a meeting of Joint Action Committee.
Sporadic violence by pro-Telangana activists in the region targeted the Telugu Desam Party as they set on fire the party office in Karimnagar district and burnt effigies of TDP leaders in Warangal, Nalgonda and Adilabad districts.
The Congress and the TRS want the opposition TDP to reconsider its decision and join the committee to push for Telangana. However, N. Chandrababu Naidu’s party does not appear to be willing.
Earlier, former home minister K Jana Reddy had wanted the TDP to join the committee. TRS leader E. Rajender, too, made a similar plea. “Let us set our political affiliations aside and fight for a united cause,” he appealed to the TDP.
However, the TDP accused the TRS of pursuing a hidden agenda and the Congress of lacking clarity on the issue.
The committee has decided to meet on Sunday to announce its plan. It is mulling whether to take out a bus yatra or organise bandhs. “We will decide on the next course of action tomorrow and announce it on Tuesday,” Chandrasekhar Rao said.
Ironically, the Congress and the TRS are apparently trying for oneupmanship within the committee, with both sides claiming a key role in the movement.
The TDP, on the other hand, demanded that Sonia first speak on the Telangana issue.
“Let her first make a clear statement on creation of a separate state, and within 10 seconds of her statement, our leader Chandrababu Naidu will spell out our stand,” TDP politburo member Nagam Janardhana Reddy said.
