1956 Situation May Happen Again: Harish Rao

Telangana caretaker minister T Harish Rao today said that statehood for Telangana, which was achieved after a long-drawn struggle and many sacrifices, was facing the threat of a repeat of the 1956 situation, when the Telangana region was forcibly merged with Andhra.

Rao alleged that like the Telangana leaders who had supported Andhra leaders in 1956 in exchange for important posts, many Praja Kutami leaders were hatching a conspiracy for supremacy over Telangana by forging an alliance with TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, who was trying to make inroads once again into Telangana.

Anti-Telangana forces had gotten together using the elections as a ruse, and were conspiring against the state, Rao claimed.

"Do not vote for the Congress, the TDP or their allies, as the unholy Praja Kutami is hatching a fresh conspiracy against our state," he said while talking to media persons at Telangana Bhavan.

He said that Naidu had written several letters to the Centre against statehood for Telangana, had created a drama by declaring the resignations of his ministerial colleagues when statehood was granted to Telangana by the Centre, and had later written again to the Centre against the permissions for the Kaleshwaram, the Sita Rama, and the Palamur lift irrigation projects among others in the state, and that the same person was now coming to Telangana to seek votes without shame.

Rao also criticised the TDP chief for meddling in the affairs of Telangana instead of developing Andhra Pradesh.

He appealed to the voters of the state to remain alert, think wisely and vote for the TRS for welfare as the state would plunge into crises if the "unholy alliance" of the opposition parties (Praja Kutami) was voted to power.