Hyderabad, May 17: Congress leaders from Andhra Pradesh’s Telangana region Monday told the party’s central leadership that nothing less than a separate state of Telangana is acceptable to them.
A delegation led by K.Keshava Rao met Ghulam Nabi Azad, the party general secretary incharge of the state and submitted a memorandum, urging the leadership to immediately initiate the process for formation of a separate state as announced in December 2009.
In an indirect threat to the leadership, they told Azad that if the central government failed to take act, they would have no option but to resign.
Keshava Rao said they urged the leadership not to force them to take the extreme step.
Azad, who arrived on a two-day visit to meet the party leaders on various issues, promised to hold a meeting with all Telangana leaders Tuesday.
The Congress leaders including MPs, state ministers and legislators held a meeting before calling on Azad.
Another senior leader Amos said they demanded that the party make its stand clear on the Telangana issue by month-end failing which they would have no alternative but to join the mass movement.
Leaders of youth wing of the party from the region also called on Azad and briefed him about the situation in Telangana.
Later, Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy also called on Azad and is believed to have discussed various issues including the results of the recent by-elections to Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula assembly constituency.
Azad is learnt to have discussed with him and other leaders the reasons for party’s defeat at the hands of YSR Congress party. Several other leaders called on Azad individually. Some legislators complained against the chief minister.
Kiran Kumar hosted a dinner for Azad, who was on his first visit after taking over as the incharge of party affairs in the state.
–IANS–