By IANS,
Hyderabad: The central government’s latest statement Wednesday on Telangana, stressing the need to hold consultations with all political parties on the formation of a separate state, evoked mixed reactions in Andhra Pradesh.
While the ruling Congress party leaders welcomed the statement made by Home Minister P. Chidambaram late Wednesday evening, saying it would help in resolving the issue amicably, the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders in Telangana alleged that the Congress had again betrayed the people of the region.
TDP legislator from Warangal district E. Dayakar Rao announced that he would submit his resignation to the assembly speaker Thursday to protest the government’s u-turn.
Another TDP legislator N. Janardhan Reddy said the Congress owed an explanation to the people of Telangana for backtracking.
Congress leader and former minister Jana Reddy went into a huddle with Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao and other leaders to chalk out their future course of action.
The TRS president said he would announce his strategy after consultation with leaders of all parties, students, lawyers and others who have been participating in the movement for Telangana state.
While Congress MPs from Telangana welcomed the statement, saying the government had not gone back on its word, some of the state legislators of the party voiced their unhappiness.
Congress, TDP and Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) leaders including MPs and legislators of coastal Andhra and Rayalseema welcomed the statement. And leaders who were on hunger strike called off their protest.
Congress legislator from Rayalseema Shailajanth said it was a step in the right direction to keep the state united.
The state cabinet hailed the statement and said it would allay all the apprehension and help resolve the issue amicably. It appealed to all legislators from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema to take back their resignations.
More than 140 legislators from these regions had submitted their resignations to the speaker after the Dec 9 announcement by the government that the process for formation of Telangana state would be initiated.
Chief Minister K. Rosaiah said the statement was not to make people of one region happy or hurt people of the other. He hoped that the agitation continuing for the last 20 days would come to an end and development activities would resume.
“It is a good statement. The cabinet unanimously welcomed it. After this statement there is no need for some people to celebrate or for some others to feel hurt,” the chief minister said.