Telangana: Activists reject Manmohan Singh's appeal, to intensify stir

Separate Telangana agitationists today rejected Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's appeal for calling off the 22-day strike and threatened to intensify it if the Centre does not announce the formation of the state with a "clear-cut timeframe".

After a 30-minute meeting with Singh, TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao and Joint Action Committee convener Prof Kodhandaram said they were not satisifed with the Prime Minister's response when he sought "some more time" to decide on the issue.

Rao, whose indefinite fast in December 2009 had forced the Centre to announce initiation of process for formation of Telangana state, threatened to go on a fast-unto-death again, but gave no indication when it would be.

"The prime minister asked us to call off the agitation. We told him it is not in our hands. People are very angry in Telangana and they have even decided not to celebrate festivals. People are dying everyday for the casue of Telangana," he told reporters after his meeting.

Rao said the delegation, that had members from his TRS party and also the JAC, told the prime minister that an "expedited" solution to the vexed issue should be found immediately.

"He was telling us that he understands the demand, the sentiments and aspirations of the people. But he did not give any assurance to us. He told us that a process is underway and consultations are on and said that will take some more time," he said.

Rao made it clear that the agitation would not end "until the Centre announces the formation of a separate Telangana state with a clear-cut timeframe and roadmap."

"Without that, it is not possible for us to call-off the agitation. The momentum will be kept up and we will decide," he said.

Rao said "as a matter of fact, we are not satisifed with the prime minister's response. He was just saying he understands the sentiments and respects their aspirations."

Rao, who during the day met leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and CPI leader AB Bardhan, said both assured their parties' support for the formation of a separate Telangana state.

He said both Swaraj and Bardhan would write to Singh separately tomorrow seeking an "early decision" on the Telangana issue.

Meeting Rao and Congress leaders from the agitation-hit region separately during the day, Singh told both the delegations that he would brief the party leadership, including its chief Sonia Gandhi, and the Core Group on his deliberations with them.

Rao, accompanied by Telangana Joint Action Committee chief K Kodhandaram, briefed Singh about the "grave situation" in Telangana region and how all 10 districts there are "boiling" due to the general strike in support of the demand.

The TRS chief, who is the political face of the Telangana movement, asked the prime minister to "expedite" the decision on the statehood demand and told him there was no need for "further consultations" on the issue that has divided the state virtually on regional lines.

Rao asked the prime minister to instruct Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to restore 7-hour power supply to farmers in Telangana region.

"We strongly feel that the chief minister, as the head of the state government, should try to address the pressing needs of farmers rather than instigating farmers against the Telangana movement," he told the prime minister.

As the general strike in Telangana entered its 22nd day, Congress leaders, including senior Minister J Geetha Reddy and K Jana Reddy, briefed Singh about the situation in the region and the "urgent need" for the Centre's intervention as people were not in a "mood even to celebrate upcoming festivals".

The delegation, which included ministers, MPs and an MLC, told the Prime Minister that the Centre should announce a "time-frame" for taking a decision on the statehood issue as "time is running out."

"We briefed the prime minister of what is happening in Andhra Pradesh, in Telangana region. He knows the Telangana issue and the problems. We briefed him in detail about the strike that is being supported by every section of the society," Geetha Reddy told reporters after the 30-minute meeting at the PM's 7, Race Course Road Residence.

"He expressed his understanding and sympathies to us. He said we need to solve the problem. He also told us that we will try to solve it as soon as possible," Geetha Reddy said.

The leaders told Singh that they would assure that the safety and security of people of non-Telangana regions in Hyderabad would be ensured if Telangana state is formed.