'Statehood a matter of self-respect for T people'

Deputy CM narrates injustice meted out to T over the years to core committee Hyderabad: Describing the Telangana movement as the longest in the world history, the Deputy Chief Minister Damodara Rajanarasimha reportedly told the Congress Core Group that it is not a fight for power but a struggle for existence and self-respect. Elaborating the reasons for the demand of special statehood for Telangana region, he reportedly told the high command that people of this region have become secondary citizens after the formation of Andhra Pradesh. "Injustice has been meted out to the people on all fronts over the years and they could not get anything which they should get legitimately and in conformity with the rules and understanding arrived at during the merger. That's why our people want separation and this is a just demand" he was learnt to have stressed. "For the past 58 years, the people of Telangana have been the target of all kinds of injustice and their natural demands have been suppressed by the successive governments. Out of these 58 years, leaders from Seemandhra region were at the helm of affairs. Only PV Narasimha Rao, T Anjaiah and Marri Chenna Reddy have been made as Chief Ministers and they were not allowed to rule more than three years. You can understand the injustice with this discrimination alone " he was said to have stated. He has also explained how the Constitutional guarantees were flouted on some vital issues. "No alternatives are acceptable to the people of the region except creation of Telangana state wih ten districts. They reject the packages if doled out" Rajanarasimha reportedly made it clear.