No Telangana resolution in AP Assembly, says Chief Minister

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy today categorically ruled out passing a resolution in the Assembly seeking creation of separate Telangana even as he asserted that no one could force the Centre to take a decision on the bifurcation of the state.

"Political parties, except one or two, are grossly divided on regional lines. So naturally any resolution on the statehood issue will be defeated in the House. I told the Telangana Rashtra Samiti MLAs clearly that any resolution on Telangana (in the Assembly) can be contrary to their liking," he told newspersons during an informal chat after the House was adjourned for the day.

Questioned about the then Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram's statement (on December 9, 2009) that the process for creation of Telangana would be initiated after a resolution in the Assembly, Kiran remarked: "Indira Gandhi also made a statement in Parliament in 1969-70 (on Telangana). Jawaharlal Nehru came here to find a solution but the Telangana issue remained unresolved for the last 50 years."

It was a sensitive issue and no one could force the Centre to take a decision, he said. "The Government is strong in Delhi to take a decision. It has to take all issues into consideration while taking a decision... in the interest of the state and the country. The Government should protect interests of all people."

Kiran, however, hoped the Centre would come out with a decision soon on the vexatious statehood issue.

The CM recalled the agitation for a separate Telangana state was more intense in 1969. "I was in school at that time. The situation was more intense than," he said referring to the ongoing agitation for a separate state.

Earlier, the TRS members disrupted proceedings of the Assembly on the first day of the monsoon session demanding a resolution seeking creation of Telangana state.

The House was adjourned for the day without transacting any business as members of other Opposition parties like TDP, YSR Congress and BJP, too, raised different issues.

As two adjournments did not bring order in the House, Speaker Nadendla Manohar adjourned it for the day.