NEW DELHI: Taking a cue from social activist Anna Hazare, Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrasekhar Rao has brought the agitation for a separate Telangana State to the national capital.Pro-Telangana activists led by Rao, popularly known as KCR, on Sunday staged a sit-in protest at Rajghat on the day of Gandhi Jayanti. Andhra Pradesh Government employees who are part of the Telangana Joint Action Committee, its chief M Kodandaram and TRS members participated in the protest. The demonstration at Rajghat began a few hours after top political leaders in Delhi paid their respects to mark Gandhi Jayanti. At a time when the general strike in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh has entered its 20th day, KCR made it clear it would continue till the UPA government initiates the process to form the Telangana State.KCR, who is camping here to step up pressure on the Centre, wanted to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Central leaders to emphasise the need for an early decision to carve out Telangana. “We will hopefully get the appointment (with the PM) tomorrow. Our number one demand to the Prime Minister will be Telangana. The other is to stop attacking our protesters.... One of our members was almost killed. We came to Rajghat today to struggle non-violently just like the Mahatma,” KCR told reporters.Earlier Congress’ Andhra Pradesh incharge Ghulam Nabi Azad and party trouble-shooter Pranab Mukherjee said more consultations are required on Telangana and they needed more time to take a final decision. Responding, KCR asked, “How long will they take for a decision? Our people are suffering and dying in Telangana.... We need Telangana, not comforting words. First there was a Pranab Mukherjee committee, and then there was a Sri Krishna committee and now Azad committee. Why are they testing our patience?”
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