Telangana MPs, MLAs to meet Congress top brass this week

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Ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Congress MPs and MLAs from Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh are raking up the statehood issue by asking the high command to take 'immediate steps' for the formation of a separate state.

As part of their strategy, the MPs, MLAs and few state ministers will meet Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and senior party leader Ahmed Patel on Wednesday or Thursday.

The lawmakers had on Thursday last met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and told him that they cannot continue in their posts for long if the Centre does not announce formation of Telangana state.

The meeting with Pranab and Antony is expected to be a stormy one with MPs and MLAs likely to tell them categorically that the Centre should stick to its December 9, 2009 statement that steps would be initiated for the formation of Telangana state.

"We have nothing to say now. Whatever we have to say, we have told the party high command long back. It is now time for the party to convey the decision," a senior MP from Telangana told PTI.

The MPs and MLAs had met Pranab and Antony in March when the two ministers reportedly asked them to wait till the Assembly elections in five states were over.

"Now the elections are over, we would want the party and government to come clear on the issue. People have been waiting for a separate state for long," the MP said.