Telangana Cong leaders flay JC

HYDERABAD: Congress legislator J C Diwakar Reddy invited the wrath of fellow legislator from Telangana R Damodar Reddy on Sunday for making Hyderabad a contentious issue, even as the Congress party began reworking strategies to prevent TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao from walking away with the credit for the renewed Telangana struggle.
The former IT minister vent his ire at Diwakar Reddy holding him responsible for the current stalemate."But for the action of J C Diwakar Reddy who submitted his resignation letter to the Speaker without consulting the party chief or the high command, things would not have gone astray. He is to be blamed for disrespecting the high command's decision on Telangana and for igniting the fire for a unified state," he said. Cautioning Diwakar Reddy for insisting that Hyderabad be made a Union territory, Damodar Reddy said that anybody making claims on Hyderabad would be given a befitting reply by people of the region.
Earlier, Congress MLA J C Diwakar Reddy flayed media reports that he was acting at the behest of chief minister K Rosaiah. "I am not a child to be directed or dictated by anyone. My stand is clear. I am for a unified state. If Telangana is a reality, so will be our demand to make Hyderabad a Union territory," he said.
Former minister T Jeevan Reddy also took objection to J C Diwakar Reddy's statement. He said: "Everyone came to Telangana with an intention to loot the region and not to serve it. Is it not true that the film industry is dominated by people who hail from non-Telangana regions? Hyderabad belongs to Telangana people and nobody can claim it as theirs."
Responding to media queries, Congress leader Palvai Goverdhan Reddy said the chances of President's rule were remote and asked party leaders to rise to the occasion and help the central leadership take a decision for forming Telangana state. He said Rosaiah would continue as the chief minister and Telangana could be achieved only during Sonia Gandhi's tenure.
Meanwhile, the state Congress is reworking strategies to prevent TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao from walking away with the credit for the renewed Telangana struggle. Sources said Telangana party leaders were of the opinion that the TRS chief was trying to prevail on the think-tank of the newly-formed Joint Action Committee under Prof Kodandaram.
Some of the leaders felt that the TRS chief and other party leaders were acting independently without holding consultations or discussing their plan of action in the JAC to achieve Telangana. They felt that the Congress party must have a committee dedicated exclusively to monitor the efforts of the party in achieving statehood to Telangana.
"The state Congress will hold a meeting of its MPs, MLAs, MLCs and other elected representatives on Dec 29 to discuss on how to proceed in the JAC," said Damodar Reddy.
Former MP G Venkataswamy predicted a third revolution for Telangana. "No force on earth can prevent its formation as the movement is in the hands of students. I urge the state government not to foist cases against students as they are taking up their cause in a Gandhian manner," he said.