Hyderabad, December 17: Seeking to mount pressure on the Centre to reverse its decision on Telangana State, Congress legislators from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions today decided to take their battle to Delhi.
The members nominated Kurnool MLA TG Venkatesh to lead the delegation to Delhi for holding talks with the Central leaders.
Leaders of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions had a luncheon meeting at the residence of former minister and Tadipatri MLA JC Diwakar Reddy here to discuss their future course of action.
They were of the view that the Congress Central leadership would change its decision on Telangana following differences among the UPA partners on the issue and in view of the ongoing agitation in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.
Talking to newsmen later, Diwakar Reddy said that they have decided to take the agitation ahead to achieve their goal. He urged the students community to leave the agitation to political leaders to facilitate the latter to talk to the Centre to bring an amicable solution to the issue.
“We are of the view that political leaders have the responsibility to lead the agitation,’’he noted.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Palvai Goverdhan Reddy asserted that the Central Government would not go back on its stand on Telangana. In fact, the process towards formation of Telangana state was already started.
He said that the Congress high command would constitute a sub-committee to remove people’s apprehensions on Telangana issue. “Those having doubts or objections in respect of Telangana can express it to the committee,’’ he added.
On the other hand, City minister M Mukesh Goud stressed the need of separate statehood for Greater Hyderabad if the State was bifurcated.
“We (city MLAs) have the responsibility to protect the interests of Hyderabad people. People from all 23 districts in the State and from other states in the country have been living here for the past 50 to 60 years. Though we do not oppose separate Telangana, we object Hyderabad being made a part of Telangana. We will also undertake agitation if the need arises. We will tell our views to the Congress high command for necessary action,’’ he added.
–Agencies