Nizamabad MP Madhu Yaskhi Goud expressed shock and disbelief over a statement made by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who said that Telangana cannot be granted statehood without consensus.
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Madhu Yaskhi said that Congress leaders did not expect such a statement from the Prime Minister.
He recalled that following a representation made by 43 Congress MLAs in 2002, the Congress party had constituted a committee led by Pranab Mukherjee to study the demand of the Telangana region. Dr. Manmohan Singh was also a member of that committee, he said.
After studying the demand, the Pranab Mukherjee Committee prepared a report stating that a Telangana state should be formed, Madhu Yaskhi said.
"We are surprised how Dr. Manmohan Singh, who himself was a member of the committee, could make such a statement on Telangana," Madhu Yaskhi said.
However, he said, Congress MPs would soon meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi for more clarity on the issue.
The Congress MP alleged that Manmohan Singh might have made the statement under the pressure of Seemandhra leaders.
He requested the Congress High Command to restrain from making statements that could further damage the party's image in the Telangana region.
"Such statements will lead people to believe that Congress party has been cheating them," he said.
Madhu Yaskhi said that the party MPs from the region would meet on Monday to discuss the future course of action, especially in view of the Prime Minister's statement. (INN)