Jana Reddy urges High Command : Expedite bifurcation before a new crisis

Urges Seemandhra leaders to cooperate. Hyderabad: Upping the ante, T Congress leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister D Rajanarasimha and Panchayat Raj Minister K Jana Reddy, on Tuesday appealed to the party High Command to speed up the process of bifurcation of the State before the present cordial and peaceful atmosphere takes a turn for worse. At a press conference, Jana Reddy said their demand for dividing the State is for administration purposes only. "As people we will continue to be united as Telugus." He said the Seemandhra leaders and people too should understand that by carving two states both will develop faster. Even the High Command wants development of both the regions, Jana Reddy said. Asked if the T Congress leaders have any indications about the possibility of Centre taking a favourable decision, he replied in the negative. Jana Reddy said, they have no replies to such questions. "All that we can say is that the party is making a serious exercise in finding a solution to the problem. It has exhibited its seriousness by including the issue in the Congress Working Committee meeting and by appointing Sri Krishna committee and Pranab Committee." Jana Reddy said, all that the T Congress leaders would like to appeal to the High Command is to resolve the issue before the present peaceful and cordial atmosphere in the State gets disturbed. In this regard, he said on behalf of the T Congress leaders he would appeal to the people and leaders of Seemandhra region to cooperate. He said any further delay in decision making would adversely affect the development of the State. A quick decision will help in making the two states as symbols of Telugu pride and unity. He further said that there need be no fear in the minds of lakhs of people who have made the T region their home. They will continue to stay here and will be part of the new State. They will not face any kind of problem and that the Congress would like to assure, he said. Replying to another question, he said soon the Chief Minister, the PCC president and the Deputy Chief Minister will prepare the proposals to be presented to the party High Command to find a solution to the problem. Among those who were present at the press conference were Ministers Prasad Kumar, Sudershan Reddy, Basavaraju Sariah. Ponnala Lakshmaiah, J Geeta Reddy, Sunita Lakshma Reddy and MP Madhu Yashki joined them later. In an informal chat, the T leaders expressed divergent views. While some say that the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has been given a clear indication that the High Command was in favour of dividing the State and he should be ready for the consequences and that is the reason why Digvijay Singh has asked the trio, Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and PCC president to prepare a roadmap, another section feels that still nothing can be said with certainty. They say leaders of both the regions are equally confused as to what was actually in the mind of the AICC President. If the T Congress leaders can maintain the new found unity for more time it may help in putting pressure on the Centre to tilt the issue in their favour.