Telangana leaders discuss ways to step up agitation

Ways to intensify the agitation for Telangana state, including Telangana Rashtra Samithi's (TRS) call for an indefinite bandh, were today discussed at a meeting here of leaders from the region.

At the first meeting of the Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC), formed yesterday, TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao is understood to have mooted a proposal to fix a deadline for the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

The closed-door meeting of leaders belonging to TRS and other outfits decided to continue the movement peacefully, TRS sources said.

Telugu Desam, which had attended the inaugural meeting of the JAC, stayed away from today's meet in the wake of an attack on a senior party leader in Osmania university yesterday.

"There is no bandh tomorrow. We appeal to the people to hold peaceful protests as they deem fit. We will speak to all political parties and form a committee. As per the recommendations of that committee, we will go ahead with the agitation," senior Congress MLA R Damodar Reddy told reporters here.

The future course of action will be decided by taking stock of the situation in the state and at the Centre, he said.

The JAC also appealed to TDP leaders from Telangana region to join the committee to strengthen the agitation.

"We appeal to TDP to be a part of the JAC to send a message to the Centre and one and all that entire Telangana is one in demanding separate statehood," senior TRS leader N Narasimha Reddy said.

Congress MP Madhu Yashki Goud said all party MPs from Telangana have impressed upon the party high command on the need to grant separate statehood to Telangana.

"Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the December 9 resolution is not being diluted. Veerappa Moily has also clarified. We have asked the high command to implement the December 9 announcement in letter and spirit," Goud said.

The meeting was attended by senior Congress MLAs K Jana Reddy and senior BJP leader C Vidyasagar Rao and a few other Telangana leaders.