Keshav Rao attacks Chidambaram as Telangana issue hots up

New Delhi/Hyderabad, Sep 25 (PTI) Ratcheting up pressure
on United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on Telangana
(in the southeastern Indian state Andhra Pradesh) issue, a
senior Congress leader Sunday joined the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) in attacking Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram
for not delivering on the statehood "promise" even as the
'rail roko' agitation disrupted normal life in the region for
the second day.
A strong votary of statehood for Telangana, Congress
leader K Keshav Rao said, "If the Congress did not want to
give Telangana then why did Mr Chidambaram announce on
December 9 2009 that the steps for formation of Telangana
would be initiated? The words of the Home Minister should
carry some weight."
Rao targeted Chidambaram for his comments in Parliament
that Congress has not yet taken a stand on the issue and
accused him of not getting his facts right.
"Let me correct him. I hold a bigger position than the
Home Minister in the party. The Congress Working Committee way
back in 2001 passed a resolution stating that there are valid
reasons for formation of separate Telangana," he said at a
meeting in Delhi on Telangana statehood issue.
Rao said Congress leaders from Telangana are "frustrated"
and their patience was running out.
Extending his party's full support to Telangana movement,
BJP Chief Spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad asked the UPA
government not to play with the sentiments of the people of
the region.
"Let your party (Cong) bring the Bill relating to
Telangana in Parliament. We will fully support it without any
compromise.... If we come to power we will deliver on
Telangana," Prasad told Rao.
Meanwhile, normal life in Telangana region continued to
remain affected for the second day due to the 36-hour 'rail
roko' call given by the Telangana Joint Action Committee.
In view of the rail blockade, South Central Railway (SCR)
cancelled 55 express trains, diverted 55, besides cancelling
222 local train services and rescheduling others passing
through various routes of the region.
Activists of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), BJP and
pro-Telangana groups continued their demonstration and sit-ins
on railway tracks and stations at several places in Telangana
districts and Hyderabad city.
Telangana supporters also organised 'Vanta Varpu' (mass
cooking) and had lunch on rail tracks and platforms.
The general strike in the region also entered the 13th
day with pro-Telangana organisations staging protests and
organising human chains in Warangal, Karimnagar and other
Telangana districts.
TRS MLA and party president K Chandrasekhar Rao's son K T
Rama Rao said his father was still considering the option of
undertaking indefinite hunger strike in support of Telangana
demand.
"No final decision has been taken yet. The idea of
undertaking fast between Dussehra and Diwali is being
considered. A massive 'Chalo Hyderabad' is also being
planned," he said.
The strike by all sections of people is being organised by
the JAC that comprises TRS, BJP and a number of people's
organisations like pro-Telangana Andhra Pradesh government
employees.
In Delhi, BJP said the "overwhelming" support for the
Telangana state should be respected.
Prasad accused the UPA of "manipulating" democratic
institutions including the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian
Parliament) Speaker's Office to delay the formation of
Telangana.
"The Telangana promise was made in the Common Minimum
Programme of the UPA-I. After that they appointed a Central
committee headed by Pranab Mukherjee. This is not done at
all. Please do not play with the sentiments of the people."
The BJP leader said when MPs give in writing their
resignation letters that has to be accepted. He was referring
to resignations submitted by Keshav Rao and nine other
Congress MPs from the Telangana region.
"I have the highest regard for the office of the Speaker.
But why the resignations are kept pending? Why is it that all
democratic institutions are being manipulated to delay the
formation of the state? This cannot be appreciated," he said.
Another senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu alleged that
the Central government and Congress leadership were
responsible for the "mess" in Andhra Pradesh.
"Lack of commitment, clarity, unity and foresight on the
part of the Government and the Congress party has resulted in
the present chaos. Their arrogance, highhandedness,
opportunistic politics for their short-term political gains
added fuel to the fire," he alleged.
He claimed that the entire Telangana region has come to a
standstill and the development and governance in the state has
come to a grinding halt.