Nagarkurnool MLA Dr Nagam Janardhan Reddy, who joined the BJP the other day, today refuted TDP senior leader T. Harish Rao’s claim that the BJP wouldn’t give Telangana State. He said the BJP was and still is in favour of a separate State for the Telangana region.
Dr Reddy said Harish Rao has no moral right to level baseless allegations against a national party which has been supporting the cause of small States for a long time. He said Harish Rao’s claim that the BJP doesn’t keep its word and that party never promised Telangana State are totally false. As a part of their agenda to carve out small States, BJP top leader L.K. Advani and deputy Prime Minister during NDA regime had consulted then AP chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to take his consent to form a separate Telangana too. But the TDP leader had strongly opposed the proposal then, Dr Nagam added.
The newly-joined BJP leader said, “Our party has always been in support of smaller States. Even now, if the Centre tables a Telangana Bill, our party and its constituents would vote for it without batting an eyelid. What benefit do we get if the State is bifurcated? The credit will go to Congress and the UPA only. So what for Harish Rao was trying to accuse us of?” he asked.
Stating that it would not be possible for a regional party to bring about a separate State and that would be possible only with the support of a national party, Janardhan Reddy also ridiculed RLD chief Ajit Singh’s statement that Telangana cannot be granted till the 2014 elections. He said,”I have only two questions – Will UPA give Telangana? If yes, then why not now? Why after elections?”
Speaking about the Assembly session, Dr Nagam said just shouting in the House would not have any effect. He said important points need to be raised and solid solutions need to be found to bring about division of the State at a faster pace. He said the loss of lives for the sake of a separate state is a cause for worry and both the Centre and the State need to give it a serious thought and give the people what they want. (NSS)
