By IANS,
Hyderabad: The decision of Congress MP from Vijayawada L. Rajagopal to launch a hunger strike here from Monday to protest the proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh has evoked strong reaction from his own party leaders in Telangana.
Senior Congress leader and former minister P. Goverdhan Reddy demanded that the MP be arrested on his arrival in Hyderabad. He warned of bloodshed if Rajagaopal undertakes a fast here.
Rajagopal, who has resigned as MP to protest the central government’s decision to initiate the process for granting separate statehood to Telangana, has said he would launch the hunger strike in Hyderabad.
Talking to reporters, Goverdhan Reddy alleged that the industrialist MP was bringing hired goons from Vijayawada to create disturbances in Hyderabad.
“He made crores of rupees in Hyderabad and is now using the same money for blackmail,” said Goverdhan Reddy.
Another party leader and former minister Jeevan Reddy also warned Rajagopal against provoking the people of Telangana and said nobody could stop the formation of Telangana state.
Another former minister and legislator, R. Damodar Reddy, took exception to the MP’s remark about Hyderabad and said he was not aware of the city’s history.
“Hyderabad will be the capital of Telangana state,” he said and hoped that Congress president Sonia Gandhi would carve out the separate state either through a resolution in the assembly or through a bill in parliament.
Groups fighting for separate statehood for Telangana region have also warned Rajagopal against launching a hunger strike in Hyderabad saying he could do so in Vijayawada or some other part of Andhra or Rayalaseema.