BJP asked to make its stand clear on Telangana

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 12. Charging the BJP leaders with speaking in different voices on Telangana, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president, Mr. K. Chandrasekhara Rao, on Saturday, asked the party to make its stand clear.

The immediate provocation appears to be the Union Minister of State for Urban Development, Mr. B. Dattatreya's comment that the TRS and Mr. Chandrasekhara Rao's `drama' will be over in two months.

At a press conference here on Saturday, Mr. Rao responded by saying that it was BJP's drama that will soon be over, with thousands of workers from that party joining the TRS. It was surprising that Mr. Dattatreya used such a language having won from Telangana region and after being instrumental in adoption of a resolution on Telangana by the State BJP at its meeting in Kakinada.

Why should he criticise a 15-day old Samithi? Is there anything wrong in making such a demand and working for its achievement?, he asked and demanded that Mr. Dattatreya withdraw his remarks. Such remarks only show the ripples caused by the TRS in the BJP and other parties. In fact, some BJP MLAs had called him to criticise Mr. Dattatreya.

Mr. Rao said there was utter confusion in the BJP ranks. While Mr. Dattatreya spoke in this manner, the BJP MP, Mr. A. Narendra, disclosed the truth that the party was not keen on supporting the issue as the survival of the NDA Government at the Centre was at stake. Several other BJP leaders favoured a separate Telangana. On the other hand, the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, ruled out the possibility on the ground that Hyderabad was in Telangana. At least now, the BJP should make its stand clear.

Mr. Rao said the TRS, on Friday night, got permission at last for its `Telangana Simhagarjana' rally at the SRR college grounds in Karimnagar town on May 17. Some MLAs had expressed interest in attending the rally. Arrangements were in full swing. At a number of places drinking water would be supplied and private doctors had come forward to set up first aid camps for those likely to suffer sunstroke.

It would be a public meeting only and there would not be any delegates session as planned earlier. This was because 25 village units of TRS were interested in formally welcoming him and this may take hours together.

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Section  : Southern States
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