AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, in an exclusive chat with this newspaper on Sunday, cleared the air regarding rumours about an impending announcement about a Telangana state, a change in the state’s political leadership, Jagan etc.
What is the hitch? Is it Hyderabad as the capital city which is blocking the decision?
A consensus should emerge at the state and national levels.
So there won't be an announcement on Telan-gana this September?
There is no deadline for us to announce a decision. The announcement will take time because of the complexity of the issue. If the Telangana issue was as simple as that, we would not have taken time to announce our decision.
Are you at least favourable towards the Telangana demand?
We have to take a decision on whether to grant Telangana state or not. There is no question of favouritism. We are open on this. But people and leaders should understand that it is a very difficult decision to make.
How do you view the statements of TRS chief Chandrasekhar Rao on the issue? He says he has got some signals from the high-command about granting a T-state before this month-end. He is also in Delhi to be available for consultations with Congress leaders.
At least I am not aware of such signals as claimed by Mr Rao. I am not aware of consultations either.
The Telangana political JAC has called for Chalo Hyderabad, the TD too seems to be inclined to announce its decision in favour of T…
We will take all developments into consideration.
Reports say that the Congress high command will change the CM and PCC chief and then overhaul the Cabinet…
I am denying all reports on change of leadership. There has been is no discussion or decision on this. CM Kiran Kumar Reddy had met me during his trip to Delhi and both of us had gone to Congress president Soniaji and discussed other issues. There was no discussion on a change of guard.
But how can anyone expect discussion on a change of guard in the presence of the CM?
What I am saying is that the issue was not part of our discussion. But we are aware of all the developments and will take corrective measures whenever there are necessary.
There is a controversy regarding YSR. Leaders of the high command, including you, were praising him and state leaders here are accusing him for helping his son amass wealth illegally. Why this contrast? Recently, the Dharmana Prasada Rao committee had also recommended there should be no use of YSR’s name or his photo.
I am not aware of any such recommendation. Besides, if my brother commits a crime, how can I be held responsible? YSR is different and Jagan Mohan Reddy’s corruption is different. Both issues should be delinked.
The CBI has stated that YSR had helped Jagan make money illegally, don’t you think there is a link?
Let the court decide whether YSR was wrong or right; similarly regarding Jagan, there are certain charges on him and it is for the court to decide and the CBI to investigate. We don’t come into the picture at all. YSR was a Congressman till his last breath. He was a towering personality. What is wrong in praising a Congress-man? Someone went to court and filed a petition, the court directed the CBI to investigate and they are doing their job. If it is true that the Congress deliberately fixed Jagan, since he left the Congress and started his own party, then how were some Congress leaders also chargesheeted and being jailed? In some other allegations, several Cong-ress leaders and leaders from UPA parties were also chargesheeted and jailed, will they say that the Congress leadership has done it deliberately?
There is a strong feeling among AP Congress leaders that AICC leaders attending K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao's programme in Delhi is part of a patch up plan between the Congress and Jagan in future…
I deny any such thinking. We treat Jagan’s party as an opposing party. I repeat, YSR was different and Jagan is different. There is no point in accusing YSR unnecessarily.
What is the decision on Dharmana Prasada Rao’s resignation?
There are some legal issues here. Let me study it and discuss with the Chief Minister. We will take a final view soon.