Congress in a bind over Telangana

Hyderabad: The pro- and anti-Telangana lobbies in Andhra Pradesh have mounted pressure on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to take a decision on the issue.

Both groups have, however, warned of dire consequences if the decision goes against them.

Addressing a meeting at his party's head office yesterday, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) president K. Chandrasekhara Rao, warned that if the central government goes back on its promise, 100 members of the state legislative assembly will tender their resignations.

Threats

He warned of a "nuclear explosion" and bloodbath if the central government does not keep its promise on the formation of Telangana.

He was speaking at a ceremony held to induct some leaders of the Praja Rajyam Party from Karimnagar into the TRS.

Rao stressed on the need for the people of Telangana to remain united and not fall prey to disinformation campaigns.

Rao expressed confidence that the central government will keep its word on Telangana. "I am confident the Centre will not test the patience of the people of Telangana."

Lashing out at Andhra politicians, Rao said that their only aim was to continue the exploitation of the Telangana region by opposing the creation of the state. Meanwhile, the Congress members of Parliament from Telangana region have been summoned to New Delhi by the party High Command.

Congress leaders, including Ahmad Patel, Veerappa Moily and P. Chidambaram, have held discussions with Congress MPs from Rayala Seema and Andhra region and were expected to meet Telangana MPs to finalise the central government's position on the issue.

Rajagopal ends fast

Congress Member of Parliament from Vijaywada Lagdapati Rajagopal, who created a flutter by escaping from police custody in Vijaywada to reach Hyderabad, yesterday announced the end of his eight-day-long fast in support of united Andhra Pradesh and expressed confidence that the central government will not divide the state.

Rajagopal was discharged from the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences yesterday afternoon.

About his sensational escape from police custody in a Vijaywada hospital on Sunday night, he said that he was trying to make it a point that Hyderabad was part of Andhra Pradesh and not in Afghanistan or Pakistan.

"By trying to stop me from going to Hyderabad, the police was violating my fundamental rights", he said. "If this can happen with an elected representative you can imagine the plight of a common man".