Daijiworld Media Network – Hyderabad (SP)
Hyderabad, Jun 30: K Chandrashekhar Rao, fire brand president of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), reiterated his demand for according the status of separate state to Telangana by carving it out of Andhra Pradesh. Referring to certain reports appearing in the media, he asked the union government to shelve its proposal to set up an autonomous regional development council for Telangana, warning that such a step would give rise to turmoil in Telangana region.
Rao was addressing the participants of a meeting held in memory of Prof Kothapalli Jayashankar, former vice-chancellor of Kakatiya University, who was totally dedicated to the cause of separate Telangana state, on Wednesday June 29. Prof Jayashankar breathed his last on June 21, 2011. The Joint Action Committee has demanded for the erection of statue of Jayashankar at Tank Bund in the city.
Rao promised the gathering to carry on the mantle left behind by Jayashankar all through his life. He reminded the Prime Minister that the Congress government had promised on December 9, 2009, to create a separate Telangana state. He warned that the PM that the latter will be solely responsible if people of Telangana erupt in unison to oppose any tricks the union government may play to undermine Telangana movement.
“We will not accept anything other than a separate state. Four crore people of Telangana want a state for themselves. We are committed to carry forward Jayashankar’s ideals to continue with the fight till final result is achieved,” he announced.
A number of other people also spoke on the occasion, hailing Jayashankar for unselfish services to the cause of Telangana in the face of grave problems. Telangana Joint Action Committee chairman, M Kodandaram, a number of dignitaries, professionals, BJP leaders including state president, G Kishan Reddy and Najma Heptulla, and CPI leaders were present at the meeting.
After the meeting, Rao met state panchayati raj minister, K Jana Reddy, who hails from Telangana region. The visit was in tune with the Joint Action Committee’s decision to exert pressure on political bigwigs hailing from Telangana region to back the demand for separate state.