Former Minister Dr P Shankar Rao on Saturday condemned the opposition to State Reorganisation Bill by the Seemandhra legislators.
Participating in the debate in the State Legislative Assembly, Dr Shankar Rao said that the Telangana Bill was sent to Assembly by President of India Pranab Mukherjee only for views and seeking voting on the same was like challenging the authority of the President. He asked the Seemandhra legislators to tender an apology for demanding voting on the Telangana Bill.
Dr Shankar Rao claimed that the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had made a speech in Nizamabad stating that the Seemandhra and Telangana people should separate when they are unable to live together. He thanked Congress president Sonia Gandhi for giving statehood to the region. He demanded that the House passes a resolution naming Telangana after Sonia Gandhi.
Dr Shankar Rao also asked Chief Minsiter N Kiran Kumar Reddy to apologise for opposing the decision fo the Congress High Command. He condemned the speech of Legislative Affairs Minister S Sailajanath and alleged that the minister has displayed autocratic approach. He said the entire speech was dictated by the Chief Minister. He also alleged that Kiran Kumar Reddy was acting like the Chief Minister of Chittoor.
Deputy Speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka later adjourned the House till Monday. (INN)