Hyderabad, December 20: Asserting that the Centre has taken a decision on separate Telangana State only after taking Opposition parties into confidence, senior Telangana Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao today called upon the agitating students of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions to pull up leaders like N Chandrababu Naidu of the TDP and PRP chief Chiranjeevi during their visit to the districts.
“Criticising Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is wrong since she has taken the decision after taking the opinion of Andhra leaders,’’ he noted.
Talking to newsmen after his return to the City from Delhi, Hanumantha Rao alleged that the Andhra and Rayalaseema leaders were indulging in `false’ propaganda to mislead and create fear among Andhra people and students. He appealed to the students belonging to those regions not to fall in the trap of the political leaders and spoil their academic career.
Andhra people who have settled here would be fully protected though the State is bifurcated.
“Even after formation of Andhra Pradesh State, lakhs of Telugu people are still living in other states. The Centre has taken a decision (on Telangana) only after taking views of Naidu and Chiranjeevi.
Besides, the decision was taken based on a one-line resolution passed at the Congress Legislature Party meeting and after taking views of the Opposition at an all-party meeting,’’ he added.
Replying to a query, the Congress MP opined that the entire process for the formation of Telangana State would take about two years. But, obstacles were being created by the Opposition parties even after commencement of the process.
“Why did the Opposition parties (TDP and PRP) not raise the `unified State’ issue earlier? In fact, nobody talked about the issue before the Centre has announced its decision on Telangana.
We have been repeatedly saying that Telangana State will become a reality only through the Congress,’’ he remarked.
–Agencies