New Delhi

Chief Minister sounds a warning

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Wednesday made it clear that he had given his views on separate Telangana to the Congress core committee led by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Even while maintaining that he would not share his views with the media, he hinted that the carving out of Telangana region might lead the State’s division into more smaller pieces as there were demands like separate Andhra, Rayalaseema and Hyderabad regions raised by various political organisations and forums. However, he had no difference of opinion on the subject with the party high command and he would abide by whatever decision it took.

Dr. Reddy, who was talking to media persons after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and senior Congress leaders, said the high command would take appropriate decision at the right time.

The Chief Minister, who had been saying so long that the UPA government was trying to arrive at a political consensus on the issue, however was not forthcoming on when a Bill on Telangana would be introduced in the Parliament as almost all the parties including the BJP, TDP and Left parties were supporting the issue.

When it was pointed out that Telangana was promised by the UPA which even included it in the common minimum programme (CMP), he said CMP was some sort of understanding with the political parties and “whatever and whenever decision has to be taken it will be done by the UPA government”.

He denied that non-implementation of CMP on Telangana might lead to setback to his party in the ensuing elections. “You don’t worry about Congress.” The party knew how to take on the rivals, he added.

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