Telangana leaders may shift protests to Delhi

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posted on 13 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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The Congress leaders' move is aimed at making the high command feel the heat and to clinch the issue...

HYDERABAD: In a change of strategy, Telangana Congress leaders plan to shift their protest activities to Delhi to make the high command feel the heat and to clinch the issue.Their decision was based on the estimate that the ongoing Sakala Janula Samme has made the time ripe for such an action.Accordingly, they will visit Delhi on September 25 to submit a representation to the party bosses to resolve the issue as early as possible. After that they will stay put in the national capital and organise relay hunger strikes and other protests.The leaders believe that that the issue has reached a decisive stage and the Congress high command and the UPA government are in the mood to take a decision sooner than later.The lull in the campaign by Seemandhra leaders is being seen by the Telangana leaders as an indication of the former's reluctance to force the issue on the high command. Sensing that the time is favourable for them to strike, the T Congress leaders finalise an action plan at Thursday's Steering Committee meeting at Keshava Rao's residence here.According to Congress leaders, several political parties and Telangana outfits organised programmes in the national capital but not on a regular basis. TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao did not take up any protest in Delhi. Considering these things, Telangana Congress leaders are of the view that protests, if held in Delhi, will have a greater impact on the party leadership.
One MP said the action plan was for implementation from the last week of September to the last week of October. Another senior leader said they would get into action after knowing the contents of the AICC general secretary's report on the state's bifurcation issue.

Meanwhile, beleaguered party legislators from the region having been urging the chief minister and the PCC president to persuade the party high command to take a decision in favour of Telagnana.Of course, their predicament is understandable. Though they are making laboured attempts to tell the people that their commitment to the T cause cannot be doubted, no one believes them.The organisers of the Sakala Janula Samme, the TJAC, too are eyeing them with suspicion and not allowing them anywhere near their camps.The MLAs are particularly worried that the TJAC and the TRS are inciting people against them for political advantage. Worse, people have fallen prey to the propaganda and are not giving the Congress leaders their due. "For instance, we could not take part in the strike by the workers of Singareni Collieries because we were not allowed to," bemoaned one MLA.Congress MLA from Warangal district M Rajaiah appealed to the TJAC and other organisations to allow other political parties to participate in the movement. "Without the participation of major political parties, Telangana state will be difficult to achieve," he said.Yet, these leaders have not lost all hope. According to PCC spokesman Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy, the Congress will take a decision very soon to save itself from being wiped out in the region.