By IANS,
Hyderabad : Two Andhra Pradesh ministers Wednesday wrote to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to grant the status of union territory to Greater Hyderabad in the event of the formation of a separate Telangana state.
Health Minister Danam Nagender and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Mukesh Goud have been backed by seven legislators of the ruling Congress.
Nagender and Goud are from Hyderabad and have already come under criticism for their demand from the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), students and other groups fighting for separate state.
Telangana region comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad, which recently became Greater Hyderabad following the merger of surrounding municipalities and villages.
The ministers pointed out in their letter that Hyderabad, the fifth largest city in India, had a large population from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of the state and including it in Telangana State would harm their interests.
The two ministers also met Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to convey their opinion. The chief minister promised to bring the issue to the notice of the central leadership of the party.
TRS and other groups have made it clear that there could be no Telangana state without Hyderabad.
A group of protestors Tuesday tried to lay siege to Nagender’s house here protesting his demand.