T Cong leaders for Prez rule

New Delhi: The Telangana Congress leaders on Saturday demanded sacking of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and imposition of President’s Rule in the State, alleging that the Chief Minister and the DGP are acting in a partisan manner. Telangana Congress MPs V Hanumanth Rao, Palvai Goverdhan Reddy and Rapolu Anand Bhaskar raised the issue in Rajya Sabha and voiced the demand before Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Congress President’s Political Secretary Ahmed Patel, alleging that the police was acting in high-handed manner against Telangana students in the hostels in Hyderabad.

In a statement in Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said he understands the situation in Andhra Pradesh. “The MPs have expressed concern about the situation in Hyderabad today. We are in touch with the State Government and we will take all steps to safeguard and protect the people.”

Later the Telangana Congress leaders – V Hanumanth Rao, Palvai Goverdhan Reddy, Ponnam Prabhakar, Rapolu Anand Bhaskar, Anjan Kumar Yadav and former Minister P Narsa Reddy – targeted Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and reiterated the demand to sack him and impose President’s Rule, if the situation continues the way as it is happening now. The Telangana Congress leaders alleged that police entered student hostels and harassed them, without any provocation.

Ponnam Prabhakar questioned how the DGP was continuing in office even after the CBI inquiry was ordered by the Supreme Court. He said the DGP was emboldened by the support and encouragement of Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy. Ponnam Prabhakar deplored the police crackdown on Telangana students and warned of dire consequences if such a situation continued.

Palvai Goverdhan Reddy alleged that the police entered into hostels and harassed the students. If the students had come out on to the streets and agitated, then such an action could have been justified, he said. The police discriminated against the Telangana students and the Chief Minister was behaving like the Chief Minister of Andhra region and not of Andhra Pradesh.

Former APCC President V Hanumanth Rao said the absence of any Telangana leader on the dais of the APNGOs showed that it was merely a Seemandhra meeting and not that of united Andhra Pradesh. There were no TNGOs present, he said. At least now, the APNGOs should realize the need for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Rapolu Anand Bhaskar took strong objection to making available L B Stadium, which is meant only for sports, for a political event. He criticised the Chief Minister for being partial to the APNGOs in making the venue and the necessary clearances readily available to them. In sharp contrast, he had always refused such permissions for any protests planned by the Telangana leaders.

Anjan Kumar Yadav opposed Union Territory (UT) status for Hyderabad and warned that if Hyderabad was touched, there would be violent reaction. He cited the Congress Working Committee (CWC) Resolution, which has also approved Telangana with 10 districts and Hyderabad as Capital.