By Mohammed Shafeeq, IANS,
Hyderabad: After been heckled by protestors and virtually forced to leave during the Telangana ‘million march’ here Thursday, Congress MP Madhu Goud Yaskhi said the protest should be an eye-opener for the party and warned that, if ignored, the issue would wipe out the Congress in the region.
“I am least bothered about the attack. More important is the march which should be an eye-opener to the party and the government,” he said.
The MP from Nizamabad told IANS: “If the process for formation of separate state is further delayed it will not only destroy Congress party in the region but can create a situation of public hatred between regions.”
Yaskhi said that he is ready to resign for the sake of Telangana state but made it clear that this would be the last weapon.
“If Telangana political and non-political JACs (joint action committees) ask us to resign we will resign along with MPs from TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi) and TDP (Telugu Desam Party) and other parties,” he said.
Yaskhi and another Congress MP K. Keshava Rao came under attack when they reached Tank Bund to participate in the million march. Demanding their resignation, the protestors threw footwear, water bottles and other missiles at them.
Yaskhi, who escaped unhurt, was later arrested by police when he staged a sit-in for Telangana at Basheerbagh.
The MP suspects the involvement of political rivals in the attack.
Yaskhi said the incident show that people were impatient and were not ready to tolerate any public representative.
“Congress is becoming the target because it is being seen as the party which gave a word (on formation of Telangana state) and backed out. It is because of the double-talk of some leaders of the party that people are targeting it,” he said.
The MP said the successful march proved that police force and restrictions can’t stop a people’s movement.
Yaskhi alleged that rich leaders from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions were trying to stop formation of a separate state.