Date:08/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/08/stories/2008030857350300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Mammoth public meet at Bhongir on March 24

S. Ramu

— PHOTO: SINGAM VENKATA RAMANA

Crucial congregation: Telangana Congress leaders arriving in Yadagirigutta in Nalgonda district on Friday.

YADAGIRIGUTTA (NALGONDA DT.): A group of Congress leaders hailing from Telangana region have decided to organise a “mammoth” public meeting at Bhongir on March 24 to demonstrate the “magnitude of the sentiment” to the party high command and the adversaries on the demand for a separate State for the region.

“We are facing ‘now or never’ situation now. This public meeting would be an eye-opener for those who deride our demand for a separate State for this backward region,” Vuppunutala Purushottam Reddy, Chairman of the Telangana Development Board and Ramannapet MLA, told The Hindu here on Friday. He said those who love Telangana and those who oppose the opponents of separate State would attend the prestigious public meeting.

Special pujas

After a breakfast meeting with the top Congress leader G. Venkata Swamy and the group of leaders, including four Members of Legislative Council, drove down to this temple town on Friday afternoon.

The All-India Congress Committee secretary and Member of Parliament Madhu Yashki Goud later joined them. The leaders performed special pujas to the presiding deity Sri Lakshminarasimha Swamy for blessings to achieve a separate state very soon.

Former Minister Manikya Rao, Sanjeeva Reddy, Yadav Reddy, Kamalakar Rao, Sridhar Reddy, Indrasena Reddy and Chintala Venkateswara Reddy were also present.

Recalling the political glory of Marri Chenna Reddy, Mr. Purushottam Reddy said: “Chenna Reddy, who had gone into political oblivion for sometime, went on to become the PCC chief and the Chief Minister after taking the blessings of Sri Lakshminarasimha Swamy here and addressing a public meeting at Bhongir.”

Mr. Purushottam Reddy is expecting a turnout of two lakh people for the meeting. He refuted the observation that there was a difference of opinion among the Telangana Congress leaders on the issue of public meeting. Referring to the developments in TRS and TDP, he said: “We are going to witness sensational developments after the Bhongir meeting.” Mr. Purushottam Reddy and Mr. Sridhar Reddy took exception to the reported comments made by Satya Saibaba of Puttaparthi against bifurcation of the State.