Date:22/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/22/stories/2007122258040100.htm

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MSR pitches for Telangana again

Staff Reporter

‘We have made our stand on Telangana clear and it is for high command to decide’

M. Satyanarayana Rao

KARIMNAGAR: APSRTC Chairman and Karimnagar legislator M Satyanarayana Rao at a press conference here on Friday again raked up the Telangana issue and recounted how he, along with Lok Sabha Deputy leader G Venkatswamy, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and how Dr Singh sought his opinion on Telangana.

“At that time, Dr Singh asked me to brief him as I am a straightforward person. I apprised the PM on the Telangana sentiment and its history and how I went to jail thrice and faced lathicharge and won elections on Telangana Praja Samithi ticket.”

He further told the Prime Minister that it would be difficult for the Congress in the ensuing elections if the party neglects the formation of Telangana and cited the Karimnagar byelection results.

“We are helpless people. We have made our stand on Telangana clear and it is for the party high command to decide,” he said to a query. “Even if I become Prime Minister, I will not change my stand on Telangana,” he remarked.

However, Chief Minister Y S Rajashekhara Reddy was of the view that the Telangana sentiment would be wiped out with the rapid pace of developmental works in the region, Mr Rao said.

“Even during the Karimnagar byelection, I told the Chief Minister about the prevalence of popular Telangana sentiment, but he (YSR) talked about development, yet the TRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao won with a thumping majority of over two lakh votes,” he pointed out.

RTC strike

The RTC Chairman said that he would take all measures to prevent the proposed strike by the RTC employee unions and protect the interests of the corporation.

“The RTC officials have proposed the hiring of about 1,500 buses without my knowledge. I will hold talks with the employee union leaders and the Chief Minister and avert the strike,” he pointed out.

He said that he would prevail on the Chief Minister to provide loans to RTC under the ‘Pavala vaddi’ scheme for the purchase of new buses and protect the corporation. He said that 7,000-odd buses were outdated and a burden on the RTC and stressed the need for the purchase of new buses. He clarified that the RTC had no plans to increase bus fares.