Date:08/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/08/stories/2008020855220100.htm

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KCR warns of emotional flare-up

Special Correspondent

YSR told to convince high command on separate Telangana

— PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

Spirited struggle: A party member applies ‘tikka’ on the forehead of K. Chandrashekhar Rao, TRS president, in Hyderabad on Thursday.

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has advised Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy to take the lead in convincing the Congress high command on the formation of separate Telangana before the “passion of the people flares up” and the ongoing movement takes an unwarranted turn.

The TRS has kept the movement peaceful so far by keeping emotions at bay. “But, there is a limit to patience. Even we will not be able to do much if the situation goes out of hand,” TRS president K. Chandrashekhar Rao said. Addressing the party’s hunger strike camp here on Thursday, he said the TRS would knock “every door” in Telangana after the elected representatives resign on March 6. The Government should take the responsibility for the consequences thereafter. “Telangana intellectuals have decided to release a political hit list after which they will campaign against the betrayers of Telangana. But don’t prompt the people to prepare other hit list by playing with their emotions,” he warned.

The situation in 1969 could have repeated within no time, but the party wanted bifurcation of the State in a cordial atmosphere. “If Dr. Reddy wants to persist with his attitude, he should remember that the people of the region have taught lessons to dictators,” he said.

Moily flayed

He questioned the claims of AICC general secretary Veerappa Moily on CPI (M) and TDP’s opposition to a separate Telangana. While CPI(M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu made it clear that his party would not withdraw its support to the UPA if it introduced a bill on Telangana in the Parliament, senior TDP leader Y. Ramakrishnudu asserted that the TDP would not oppose if a bill was introduced in the Assembly, he pointed out.

TRS ideologue K. Jayashankar asserted that the Centre need not seek approval of the State Legislature for formation of separate State. The Constitution made it mandatory to obtain the State’s views, but they would not be binding on the Centre. He described the argument on making Hyderabad a Union Territory in the event of formation of Telangana State as “yet another ploy by the Chief Minister to scuttle the issue.”