Date:11/09/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/11/stories/2004091104570400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Stop confusing people: TDP

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 10. The Telugu Desam Party has taken exception to the `contradictory statements' being issued by Congress and Telangana Rashtra Samiti leaders on Telangana, thereby "confusing" people.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, the Rajya Sabha member, Ravula Chandrasekhara Reddy, and the TDP leader, B. Swaminathan, accused the TRS chief and Union Minister, K. Chandrasekhar Rao, of misleading people with his inconsistent statements on creation of a separate Telangana State.

The Sonia factor

They quoted news reports wherein the Union Minister reportedly claimed that the creation of a new State was a matter of months. They also wondered how the same leader could give another statement that the bill to be introduced in Parliament would be delayed by a few months because of opposition from the Left parties. They wondered why Mr. Rao was praising the AICC chief, Sonia Gandhi, at any given opportunity.

`Targeting by-poll'

They referred to the clarification by the Prime Minister's Office on the reported statement on Telangana and asked Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao to realise that he could not take people for a ride. They said Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao was raking up the Telangana issue with an eye on the Siddipet by-poll. The statements issued by KCR and the Congress leaders appeared to be an attempt to garner votes, the TDP leaders said.