Lok Sabha to discuss T today

New Delhi: There is an outside chance that the Telangana issue may come up for discussion in the Lok Sabha this Friday.BJP spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Rajiv Pratap Rudy has moved a private members Bill on Telangana and Gorkhaland and unless the womens Bill issue forces an adjournment of the Upper House on Friday afternoon,a relaxed discussion is possible on the key question of dividing further the states of India. The BJP is for Telangana and Gorkhaland.Even though the Centre has appointed the B N Srikrishna committee to look into the Telangana demand,we are of the view that a Bill should be introduced in Parliament and the process of creation of these two states initiated at the earliest.By moving the private members Bill,I hope to facilitate a free and relaxed discussion on the issue that is uppermost in the minds of most in Andhra Pradesh and Darjeeling, Rudy told TOI.

Telangana issue has been raised in Parliament before but more in the form of protest than as discussion. Congress MPs displayed Jai Telangana placards when President Pratibha Patil addressed the joint session of Parliament at the beginning of the Budget session in February this year. Although it is a private members Bill, Rudy said he was reflecting the views of the BJP on both the Telangana and Gorkhaland issues.The BJP has already made some inroads in Darjeeling.In last Lok Sabha elections, BJPs Jaswant Singh won the polls from this hill station. However, unlike Gorkhaland, the BJP has a long way to go with regard to Telangana.After dilly-dallying on the issue,the BJP finally pitched for Telangana ahead of the 2009 elections and has been firm on its stand ever since.But electorally,it has not made much gains as it secured only two seats in the 294-state assembly in the 2009 polls.The first major test for the BJP with regard to electoral dividends due to its pro-Telangana stand will be known when the byelection for the Nizamabad Urban seat takes place, said a leader.
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T leaders veto Diwakars Rayala-Telangana proposal


Hyderabad: The issue of Rayala-Telangana as proposed by former minister J C Diwakar Reddy drew strong criticism from Telangana legislators and ministers in the assembly lobbies on Thursday. Most of  Telangana ministers said the Rayalaseema leader must not link both the issues.They said the argument itself was unacceptable as people in Telangana region feel that they have been deprived of their right to consistent development for decades and were forced to forego government jobs that was rightfully theirs, as per the gentlemens agreement laid down while merging Andhra state with the Telangana region. Making it clear that people from T region would never welcome any such proposal by J C Diwakar Reddy,ministers D Sridhar Babu,K Venkat Reddy,D K Aruna,Sabitha Indra Reddy,Sunita Lakshma Reddy and Ponnala Lakshmaiah were categorical in stating that the Srikrishna Committee was appointed to accommodate views like these.

We want our Telangana.Our people want it and there are no two ways about it.The argument put forth by JC itself is not acceptable, said minister Sridhar Babu. People from Rayalaseema have been enjoying power consistently and have headed the government several times.But,it did not make any difference in the lives of the people in Telangana region, said small scale industries minister D K Aruna. Congress legislator K Jana Reddy was evasive to JCs proposal saying the Krishna Committee has asked for the views from a cross-section of the society and this could be one of the many that would be received by the committee.However,Ramreddy Damodar Reddy was very critical about JCs suggestion saying, Rayalaseema leaders have robbed the T region all through the years.Goondas from the region descended in and around the city for years and occupied the lands of T people illegally.We know them.We do not want to be associated with them anymore, he rued. Earlier in the day,Congress legislator P Shankar Rao too took strong objection to the proposal by J C Diwakar Reddy.

Meanwhile,minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy took strong objection to the Telangana JAC convenor Kodandarams demand,who sought the resignations of all MLAs from the T region.Who is he to ask for the resignations of MLAs.He should first resign from his post.He is drawing salary from the government and criticizing the very people who have been elected to make laws.Who is he to make such a demand The assembly is a forum to discuss and resolve public issues, he said. The issue assumes significance as Kodandaram announced that J C Diwakar Reddys statement was an indication to the weakening of the so-called struggle for a united state.He said Reddys statement must be an eye-opener to several leaders from Rayalaseema who have been airing their views in support of an undivided Andhra Pradesh.
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United Andhra movement on the wane: Kodandaram


Hyderabad: Telangana JAC convenor M Kodandaram on Thursday claimed that the slogan of united Andhra Pradesh was dying down and welcomed the support of senior Congress leader J C Diwakar Reddy for the bifurcation of the state. Addressing the media,Kodandaram said Reddys statement was the indication of weakening support to united Andhra movement in Rayalaseema as well as in coastal Andhra regions.Leaders supporting united Andhra should realise and protect their political future by giving up their demand.Otherwise,they will get trapped. However, he was quick to add that his support was for changing attitude of leaders of Rayalaseema who now appear to be agreeing for bifurcation of state. He said at its next meeting the JAC would certainly review the proposal of Diwakar Reddy but he felt that it may not support the view since JAC wants Telangana state and not Rayala-Telangana.

Referring to the recruitment of junior mining engineers in Singareni Collieries located in Telangana,he demanded that the government implement local reservation in selection process. In the meantime, TDP MLA E Dayakar Rao rejected the proposal of Rayala-Telangana.He said he was in favour of Telangana state as it existed before the merger with Andhra Pradesh. We dont want Rayala-Telangana, Dayakar Rao added categorically.
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T leaders should resign


Telangana protagonist Prof Jayashankar said the formation of a separate Tstate is possible only with a strong political resolve and urged the MLAs and MPs from the region to tender their resignations immediately. Speaking at Bodhan in Nizamabad district on Thursday,Jayashankar said all sections of the people must come out and hit the road to fight for the separate Telangana state.TNN
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(source-toi)