KOLKATA: Even as the Communist Party of India (Marxist) reiterated that it stood for a united Andhra Pradesh, A. B. Bardhan, general secretary of the Communist Party of India said here on Friday that the process for creation of Telangana was "unstoppable."

"Telangana is inevitable. It will not be possible to stall that," Mr. Bardhan said on the sidelines of the 16th Party Congress of the All India Forward Bloc.Although, Prakash Karat, general secretary of the CPI (M) reaffirmed the party's stand "for a united Andhra Pradesh," Mr. Bardhan was confident that when the bill was introduced in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, the CPI (M) would not  oppose it.

When asked about the different stance taken by the CPI (M), Mr. Bardhan said: "They are not going to oppose it in the Assembly. Of this I am sure."Mr. Bardhan was very critical of the way the Congress handled the Telangana agitation.

"It thinks the high command can take a mid-night decision," Mr. Bardhan said adding that they did not call for an all-party meeting or a consensus on the issue.

They did so without considering of "the fallout not only in Andhra Pradesh, but also here in West Bengal ," he added.

M. Rajeev and Ravi Reddy

— Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

Tackling crisis: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah speaks to journalists in Hyderabad on Saturday after 20 of his Cabinet Ministers from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions threatened to resign in protest against the Centre’s decision on statehood for Telangana.

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah on Saturday asserted that though the Centre had announced its decision on initiating the process for the formation of a separate Telangana, nothing had been finalised in this direction.

The formation of a separate State was not a day’s affair as it had to go through several processes, including eliciting the views of all stakeholders. “Moreover, I have not received any communication in writing from the Central government on the introduction of a resolution in the Assembly,” the Chief Minister said.

Mr. Rosaiah told The Hindu said he had explained, during his discussions with Central leaders, apprehensions on pushing through a resolution and “it is based on my own assessment of the legislators.”

The Congress high command too did not anticipate that the atmosphere would turn so tense following the announcement on Telangana made by Union Home Minster P. Chidambaram.

The leadership, Mr. Rosaiah said, thought of ending the fast launched by Telangana Rashtra Samiti president K. Chandrasekhar Rao through a resolution in the Assembly. The Congress Core Committee, which met ahead of the announcement by Mr. Chidambaram, was probably more concerned about the “chalo Assembly” call given by students under the auspices of the Joint Action Committee of Telangana Students, and thought that the situation should somehow be controlled with a view to protecting lives and property.

Moreover, Mr. Chidambaram, in his capacity as Home Minister, had the responsibility of protecting the peace in the State and, therefore, made the announcement to assuage the feelings of the Telangana people. Mr. Chidambaram was “not a man who thinks about creating problems,” but was rather known for working out solutions, Mr. Rosaiah said.

Asked about the steps being initiated by his government to pacify the agitated people of other regions, he said the calling off of the fast by Mr. Rao restored normality in the Telangana region to a large extent.

The government was now concentrating on the steps to be taken to reduce tensions in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.

“I am not prepared to take any hasty decisions in the existing circumstances. Efforts are under way to see that calm prevails in the two regions,” he said.

PTI reports:

Speaking to NDTV, Mr. Rosaiah said he was astonished, surprised and anguished by Mr. Chidambaram’s statement.

He said he had discussed with the high command the issue of Telangana, and had told it that to pass a resolution in the Assembly was difficult.

On Home Secretary G.K. Pillai’s comment that Hyderabad would be the capital of Telangana, Mr. Rosaiah said he thought the Home Secretary had no proper brief.

“I don’t know how a responsible person like him said this. It is astonishing for me.” Mr. Roaiah said he would not call Mr. Rao’s fast as political blackmail and similarly he would not bracket the resignation by MPs and MLAs as stage-managed.

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Says Hyderabad will be the capital of new state
Suresh Dharur
Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, December 12

On the contentious status of Hyderabad in the event of Telangana formation, KCR said “settlers” from coastal Andhra constituted only 5 per cent of the city population. “How can they (migrants from coastal Andhra) claim Hyderabad? Does it make any sense?” he said.

However, he assured people of other regions of the state who have settled in Hyderabad that they could continue to live here in peace after the formation of the new state.

Asked about the protests and resignations by people’s representatives from other two regions, he said these things were being “stage-managed and sponsored by vested interests” that had invested money and acquired land illegally in Hyderabad.

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In the backdrop of the en masse resignation of MLAs, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly was adjourned for the day today without transacting any business amid slogan-shouting by legislators over separate Telangana.

Speaker N Kiran Kumar Reddy sought the opinion of all parties whether the House should continue with its business or not, in the wake of the resignation of 128 members belonging to the ruling Congress, Telugu Desam and Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam.

He made it clear that the MLAs would continue to be members of the House until he took a decision on the matter.

"I have to speak to them before taking a decision. I have to ascertain whether they submitted their resignations under any pressure or voluntarily," he said.

Responding to a query from Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, the Speaker said the question whether the government is in majority or not would not arise as the resignations have not been accepted.

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Kolkata: Maoist leader Kishenji has said Hyderabad is an integral part of Telengana region and the city should be made the capital of the new state when it comes into being.

"Hyderabad is a part of Telengana and will stay so. There is no question of disassociating Hyderabad from Telengana," Kishenji, who hails from Telengana, which has a substantial Naxal presence, told a news agency phone from an undisclosed location last evening.

Asked why there was so much controversy over Hyderabad, Kishenji said, "It is because of some retired and existing bureaucrats who own huge chunks of land in the Greater Hyderabad region."

"Nearly 40,000 acres of land, a large portion of which is occupied by vineyards, are in the hands of some retired and present bureaucrats," Kishenji said.

The Maoist leader expressed support for creation of Telangana and accused the Congress of "depriving" people of the region of their legitimate rights by "backtracking" from its move to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.

Battling the backlash against creation of Telangana, the ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh yesterday appeared to backpedal the move with Chief Minister K Rosaiah expressing his inability to take the first step--that of moving a state Assembly resolution.

Kishenji alleged the Congress does not want to create a separate state of Telangana and so they are creating disturbances in the state.

This is not the first time the Congress is going back on its words, the Maoist leader said, adding, "It had denied the people of Vidarbha a separate state earlier."

Asked if a new state would solve the problems of the people of Telangana, he said, "This is a 50-year-old demand. Many people have laid down their lives for the cause. It is time the government showed respect to it."

He said a separate Telangana state was required to protect the culture, religion and language of the people there.

PTI 

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