Forget consensus, give us Telangana right now: KC Rao

Smarting from the Centre’s statement on putting Telangana state on hold, and in words that showed no climb-down, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhara Rao said any delay in the formation of a separate state will spark a fire in Andhra Pradesh “which even the military will not be able to control”.

“I appeal to the prime minister not to drag the issue. A lot of blood has been sacrificed. There is no more a state called Andhra Pradesh,” said Rao. The TRS on Thursday called off its 48-hour bandh for Christmas but said the Centre should not assume that it is a step down from its stand for a separate state. Rao warned that the Centre’s latest plan to set up a states reorganisation committee is not acceptable. The Centre is planning to set up such a committee to pacify regions demanding separate states in the country.

Any such reorganisation committee, Rao said, would be “an insult to the people of Telangana.”

The TRS called off its bandh soon after protesting students were lathicharged at Osmania University. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders were attacked by angry students. A  TDP MLA, N Janardhan Reddy, was beaten by protesters with slippers. Protesters also stopped nearly 20 north-bound trains from Hyderabad and Vijaywada passing through the Telangana region. Pro-Telangana activists also attacked a power plant at Karimnagar belonging to former chief minister YSR’s son Jaganmohan Reddy, who is being accused
of fuelling anti-Telangana protests.