Date:24/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/24/stories/2008022459540600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

‘Talks with YSR deadlocked’

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Congress Working Committee (CWC) member G. Venkataswamy said here on Saturday that his talks with Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy the previous evening were deadlocked on the issue of development as projected by the State government and the strong Telangana sentiment.

Addressing a seminar organised by Telangana Intellectuals Forum, Mr. Venkataswamy said development versus Telangana sentiment dominated the 90-minute long dinner meeting with Dr. Reddy at the former’s residence.

Poser on development

He also said the development plank, which Dr. Reddy went on mentioning, was being used by successive governments for the last six decades to deceive the people of Telangana. If there was indeed development worth the name, why did the government allocate a mere Rs. 200 crore for the Rs. 20,000- crore Pranahita project in the coming year’s budget?

The Chief Minister left after informing Mr. Venkataswamy and his colleagues that the former would play the role of a ‘postmaster’ in conveying their feelings to the Congress high command.

Dr. Reddy recently made AICC general secretary Veerappa Moily announce that the issue would be resolved through the second SRC. At this, Mr. Venkataswamy said he had announced his resignation which was an eye opener to the party high command. The party was forced to withdraw its stand favouring second SRC. It was in this background that senior Congress leaders, including him, demanded nothing short of statehood following which the Chief Minister called him.