By IANS,
Hyderabad : On the occasion of its ninth anniversary Wednesday, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) warned of a war-like situation if Telangana was not made a separate state soon.
TRS ideologue K. Jayashankar said war-like situation would be inevitable if the Srikrishna committee fails to give a report in line with the aspirations of Telangana people.
Addressing the anniversary celebrations of the party here, he said the panel formed by the central government to look into the issue was the last hope for people demanding a separate state of Telangana.
“If Telangana state is not formed even after the Srikrishna Committee submits its report, struggle will be the only option before the people. We can’t say what will be the shape of this movement,” said the former vice chancellor of Kakatiya University.
“People will decide the nature of the movement. They have no options as despite an announcement by the central government in parliament their dream of a separate state has not been fulfilled,” he said.
The five-member committee formed by the central government in February is currently holding consultations with all stake holders. The panel headed by former Supreme Court Justice B.N. Srikrishna has been given time till Dec 31 to submit its report.
TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao had Tuesday reiterated that “civil war would be inevitable” if separate Telangana state was not formed even after the Srikrishna Committee’s report.
The TRS is celebrating its formation day at a time when the Srikrishna Committee is engaged in consultations over Telangana issue. The party conclave, attended by delegates from all 10 districts of the region, including Hyderabad, also reviewed the developments of last six months.
It was Chandrasekhara Rao’s fast-unto-death in November-December last year which intensified the movement for Telangana state. Rao called off his fast after 11 days on Dec 9 when the central government announced that the process for formation of Telangana state would be initiated.
However, the statement by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram plunged Andhra Pradesh into crisis with massive protests in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. Mass resignations by public representatives and street protests forced the central government to backtrack and it decided to hold consultations with all the stakeholders.
All 10 state legislators of TRS resigned en masse after the central government made a second statement on Dec 23. However, legislators from other parties refused to follow the TRS line.
TRS, which initially opposed formation of the Srikrishna Committee, later submitted a memorandum to it and also put forward its arguments in favour of a separate Telangana state.
It was on this day in 2001 that Chandrasekhara Rao had quit Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and floated TRS to revive the three-decade old movement for a separate Telangana state.
Over 300 people were killed in police firing during violent protests for Telangana in early 1970s.