Hyderabad, February 25: Telangana Congress legislators have decided to intensify their struggle for statehood from Friday to mount pressure on the party leadership to concede their demand.
A section of Congress MLAs and MLCs expressed their preparedness to even obstruct the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly if the situation warrants. The statement assumes significance in the light of the disruptions caused to the proceedings by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, the BJP and the CPI.
Appeal to Ministers
The MLAs and MLCs who met here on Thursday wanted the Ministers from the region to become more proactive in their demand for statehood. There were no doubts about the commitment of the Ministers to the cause, but the way they were trying to approach the leadership was not proper.
Congress MLC K. Yadav Reddy took objection to the Ministers’ claim that they would present their views as and when they secured an appointment with the leadership. “The Ministers should assert themselves and seek an appointment. The Assembly will not stop functioning if they camp in New Delhi to voice their views,” he said.
Moily targeted
The MLCs made light of party MP Lagadapati Rajagopal’s remarks that Seemandhra leaders would abide by any decision taken by the high command. Mr. Rajagopal was allegedly behind the pamphlets on the campaign that formation of separate Telangana would result in 23 more such demands. “Five of the Seemandhra MPs are contractors without any public support and are obstructing the process of a separate State,” said Mr. K.R.Amos, MLC.
They criticised Law Minister and AP affairs in-charge M. Veerappa Moily’s reported remarks favouring introduction of a bill on separate Telangana in the Legislative Assembly.
They wanted Mr. Moily’s removal from both his positions, while Mr Amos described him as “an agent of the Seemandhra leaders.”
-Agencies