Warning the Congress that it would be wiped out from Andhra Pradesh if the UPA denied separate statehood to Telangana, state BJP chief G. Kishan Reddy on Monday said a separate Telangana alone would ensure rapid growth of people of the region in all spheres.
Mr Reddy was speaking to the gathering at the three-day satyagraha for separate Telangana at Jantar Mant-ar in New Delhi.
“If the Congress respects public sentiment, it should immediately carve out Telangana. Congress lost deposits in byelections and the party will be wiped out in 2014 if Telangana is not declared,” he said.
Mr Reddy accused the Congress of trying to suppress Telangana movement through police force and cited highhanded instances during Sakala Janula Samme and other separate statehood agitations.
He said carving out a separate Telangana was the only solution and promised the backing of the BJP if the UPA came out with a Bill in the ongoing Session of Parliament, even if the Telugu Desam, the CPM and the MIM failed to support it. “We will ensure the Bill is passed.
Telangana state is not against any section or people, but to ensure rapid growth of people of the region in all spheres,” he said.
Former BJP president Rajnath Singh inaugurated the satyagraha.
Tjac firm on march, state prepared
Speaking at the three-day satyagraha launched by state BJP president G. Kishan Reddy in New Delhi, TJAC chairman Prof. Kodandaram made it clear that if the Centre failed to take a decision on Telangana by Septem-ber 30, the government would be responsible for any consequences that affected the biodiversity meet.
“We are going ahead with the ‘Chalo Hyderab-ad’ march and there is no change in our September 30 programme,” Prof. Kodandaram told this correspondent over phone from New Delhi.
While the government has been trying to talk to the TRS and the TJAC to allow the UN meet to pass office peacefully, Telanga-na activists are not letting go of this chance to show up the government.
The CPI, BJP and students’ organisations have backed the march, while the TRS is yet to take a decision.
The TJAC’s renewed threat put both the government and the police on tenterhooks. As it is, there are rumours of an imminent decision on Telangana. If there is no positive decision, the police and the administration is likely to have its hands full.
Cyberabad police, which is manning security for the COP-11 along with the United Nations Security wing, has set up a command and control centre at NACC.
The anti-terror Octopus force, RAF and National Security Guards are being roped in along with a large number of local police.
A government official said that adequate security would being provided for the UN conference. “The police department is prepared,” he said.
A senior police officer who will be overseeing the security at the biodiversity venue, asserted that high security would be provided for the conference and delegates.
"The security plan has already been drafted. It will be finalised when the United Nations Security officials land in Hyderabad on September 5," he said.