T Cong MPs up in arms

• Serve ultimatum on party high command
• Want party to spell out its T stand by May 30

Hyderabad: Telangana Congress MPs, especially the hardliners are up in arms against the AICC spokesman PC Chacko, who stirred the hornet's nest by stating that the issue of separate Telangana was not part of the UPA's agenda. Three of the Congress MPs from the region, Manda Jagannadham, G Vivekananda and Siricilla Rajaiah came down heavily on the Congress party and questioned its commitment to the common minimum programme of the UPA. They made it clear that they would not be ready to take things lying low if the stand of the party high command was only to heap insult on them.

Stating that the AICC spokesman owed an unconditional apology for hurting the sentiments of the Telangana people, they wanted the high command also to spell out its stand rather categorically on the T demand by the month end or else they would be forced to decide their future course action. They wanted the high command to issue a statement at least justifying the demand so as to pacify the Telangana leadership.

Three Congress MPs stated that they would not hesitate to quit the party, if the party failed to respond positively on the issue. They, however, expressed their confidence over the formation of Telangana state before 2014 election as both the AICC President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi remained sympathetic to the genuine demand for separate state. Though Chacko took a U turn on his stand stating that he was misunderstood, the T leaders were in no mood to relent on this count. Sources said that the T MPs as well as other senior leaders of the party from the region were planning to make a fresh representation to the AICC chief on the issue.