Centre has betrayed Telangana, ignored our 'trauma': KCR

Flaying the terms of reference of the committee set up by the Centre on Telangana as "mindless" and a "betrayal", Telangana Rashtra Samiti Chief K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday said all 13 legislators of his party would quit their posts immediately and carry out a struggle for the formation of a separate state.

After discussing the Centre's terms with key members of the TRS politburo, Chandrasekhar Rao told media persons that the Centre had not taken into account the "trauma" of the people of Telangana while setting out the terms of reference for the committee.

"So far about 300 people, included students, committed suicide for the cause of a separate Telangana state. Government of India never considered this. The Centre has clearly succumbed to the pressure exerted by the Andhra-Rayalaseema lobby," he alleged.

"It is a total betrayal of the people of Telangana. The terms of reference are totally immoral," he said.

KCR said two MPs, including himself, 10 MLAs and one MLC of TRS would submit their resignations on Saturday and go to the people once again.

"I and Vijayasanthi (Medak MP) will meet Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and get our resignations accepted. Similarly, the MLC will meet the Council chairman and the MLAs will meet the assembly speaker individually and get their resignations accepted. After all, it is the prerogative of the legislators to resign from their posts," Rao said.

Rao wondered why 10 months were required for the Sri Krishna Committee when it could complete its job in just 10 days.

"When Andhra was carved out of the then Madras state, the then committee took only a month to complete its job. It consulted only the people of Andhra and facilitated the creation of a separate state. Why then is the Centre now seeking to elicit the opinions of people of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions," he questioned.

Maintaining that the ongoing agitation in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions in support of a unified Andhra Pradesh has no "moral and ethical" base, he asked on what moral grounds were they pleading for a unified state.

He alleged the pro-unified state agitation was "orchestrated by vested interests. It is no agitation at all".

Replying to a question, the TRS chief asserted that his party legislators would quit their posts even if the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee decided against resignations.

"We are not bonded labour in the JAC. We are an independent recognized political party with a single point agenda of securing statehood for Telangana. Resignations are our personal decision".

He appealed to legislators belonging to other parties to quit their posts as well in deference to the wishes of the people.

To a question, the former Union minister said it was immaterial even if President's rule was imposed in the state if the crisis persisted. The TRS politburo would meet in Saturday to chalk out the future course of action. Medak MP Vijayasanthi, TRS floor leader in the assembly, E Rajender, and MLA Harish Rao were among those present at the press conference.