Fix time frame for creation of separate state: Rao to Centre

New Delhi, Jul 6 (PTI) Congress MPs and MLAs from
Telangana who have resigned their membership from Parliament
and state Assembly, on Wednesday asked the Indian government
and the party high command to fix a "time frame" for the
creation of the new state.
"Give us a time frame. Be it six months, three months
or two months," Congress leader from Telangana K Keshav Rao,
who has resigned from his Rajya Sabha membership told
reporters here.
Rao, who was accompanied by several MLAs and MPs from
the region, said they wanted the process of formation of
Telangana as a separate state, to be completed.
"The process was started by the statement of Home
Minister P Chidambaram. Now we want it (the process) to
conclude in the form of Telangana," he said.
He said the government and the party were under "moral
pressure" to fulfil their long-pending demand. "We are talking
of fulfilling the promise. It is not a new promise. It was
made eight years ago. They have reiterated their promise on 12
occasions."
He also expressed "dismay" at the reported statements
of Chidambaram and AICC in charge of Andhra Pradesh Ghulam
Nabi Azad that "it can not be done in one or two minutes".
"We knew it was a complex issue when Congress Working
Committee passed a resolution agreeing on Telangana state in
principle...UPA-I included Telangana in its common minimum
programme and the Presidential address in 2004 had reference
to the Telangana formation," he said.
He scoffed at suggestions that MPs and MLAs who have
resigned would form a new party.
"The resignations are not a tool to arm twist anyone.
It is only to fulfil our urge for a Telangana state," he said.