Seemandhra netas kept in loop on division decision : T mantris

Political parties and groups in Telangana urged not to make any comments that could aggravate the situation

Hyderabad: Giving a new twist to the ongoing controversy about alleged unilateral decision taken by the Congress Working Committee in regard to carving out a separate Telangana State, the Congress ministers from Telangana region J Geeta Reddy, D K Aruna, Sunita Lakshma Reddy and N Uttam Kumar Reddy, said that the Seemandhra leaders were informed about the likely decision ahead of the CWC meeting.

Objecting to the criticism by various political parties and some Congress leaders, Geeta Reddy said the final decision had come after prolonged discussions with all political parties and their leaders from all regions. “The Seemandhra leaders had met the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, before the CWC meet. They were assured by her that the interests of Seema and Andhra regions will be taken care of and no region would suffer in future. She told them that bifurcation would be good for all the regions and hence the Seemandhra leaders should talk to the agitating people and convince them over the need to divide the State and allay their fears and cooperate in the process of smooth transition,” she said.

At the same time, she also appealed to the political parties and groups in Telangana not to make any comments that could aggravate the situation and fuel apprehensions among the Seemandhra people and lead to escalation of problems in the present surcharged situation. Answering a question, she said A K Antony committee was set up not to delay the process. “No need to have any doubts, Sonia Gandhi takes cautious decision and once taken will never go back on it,” she said. She further called upon all party leaders to abide by the decision of the high command.

Asked about the Chief Minister and PCC president having signed the resolution in support of United Andhra, Geeta Reddy said, when she spoke to him, she was told that as a Chief Minister he had taken a neutral stand and presented both views before the high command. The Congress high command is closely watching the actions of all leaders, whether it is CM or PCC president, and it is for them to take whatever action was necessary, she added. When asked why CM was confining himself to the camp office, she said, “In the past when Sakala Janula Samme took place demanding separate Telangana, neither the ministers nor the Chief Minister had attended the office, but that does not mean that administration has come to standstill.”