Date:13/12/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/12/13/stories/2003121304530400.htm

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Creation of new State not easy: PCC chief

By Our Staff Reporter

WARANGAL DEC. 12. The APCC president, D. Srinivas, has said that creation of a new State is not an easy task for any Government. However, if people wished, it would be fulfilled,'' he said while speaking at `meet the press' organised by the Warangal Staffers' Forum here on Friday.

The APCC president said the party cannot concentrate on the Telangana alone as there were several other issues to be focussed. The party constituted a committee to enlist the views of the leaders of various regions on several issues. The demand for creation of new states was everywhere in the country. He declined to comment when asked whether the Congress would pass a resolution in favour of separate Telangana if voted to power.

The APCC president said the party would accord top priority to the Flood Flow Canal and Sriramsagar projects. He said his party was not responsible for the backwardness of Telangana region. Neither the foreign origin of Sonia Gandhi nor the naxalism was an issue of the election, he said. However, the TDP had been raking up such issues only to divert the attention of the public, he said. Asked whether the party would announce the Chief Minister candidate as was done by the BJP, the APCC leader said the Congress had its own procedure of electing the Chief Minister. "The CLP will elect the candidate with the help of party high command. We have collective leadership and no individual is indispensable,'' he pointed out.