People are with us, says TRS chief

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 8. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi president, Mr. K. Chandrasekhara Rao, on Tuesday said he was not worried about the stand to be taken by the political parties on Telangana Statehood ``as it is people and not they, who will have to decide their destiny.''

Addressing the Samithi activists belonging to the twin cities, Mr. Rao said he was sure that the public mood was in favour of separate Statehood and political parties had no alternative but to fall in line. The signals are already there with "tremendous" response the Samithi was getting from all sections of people and the way the Congress and the BJP were "desperately" trying to keep their flock together.

That was why he was asking people of the region to stop carrying palanquin for political parties of different ideological hues, which they had been doing all these years, and instead organise themselves into a formidable group whose single point programme was to achieve Telangana.

Even as he was addressing there was a steady stream of new comers into the Samithi fold. The largest chunk of them was from the Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi. Fifteen members of the executive led by the MRPS women's wing convenor, Ms. Mary Madiga, announced their joining the TRS. Next was a CPI worker, Mr. Shoukath Ali, and his group of supporters.

Among others were groups of people, including minorities, a retired DSP, a bank officer and an advocate. Mr. Rao announced their names and welcomed them and spoke in Urdu briefly. He received information that Mr. P. Jaganmohan Reddy, an "important" leader of Telugu Desam and his supporters in Amarchinta constituency of Mahabubnagar had resigned and joined TRS.

Mr. Rao was critical of both the Congress and the BJP for being reluctant in supporting the cause of Telangana. While the 41 Congress MLAs of Telangana showed interest, their high command would not allow adoption of a resolution in AICC on the pretext that it may lead to a demand for separate Vidarbha in Maharashtra disturbing the party's rule there.

He said it was somewhat different with the State BJP. Having adopted a resolution at its Kakinada meeting, it was backing out now as it was more interested in keeping alive the coalition at the Centre and the party MPs together. ``I do not know whether to laugh or cry on the pathetic state of the Congress and the BJP.'' The stance adopted by the CPI(M) and the CPI was no different. They have nothing to say on the GO Ms 610, where it was clearly mentioned that 59,000 posts in Telangana were held by those from other regions.

He called upon the city activists to organise themselves in all the 100 divisions and emerge as strong political force. Do not go by individuals but develop a team spirit and work together to achieve the demand of Telangana, he added.

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Section  : Southern States
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