Addressing a massive public meeting, Sonia Gandhi said that it was the Congress party which turned the 60-year-old dream of Telangana into a reality.
AICC President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday gave full credit for the formation of Telangana to the Congress party.
Addressing a massive public meeting here, Sonia Gandhi said that it was the Congress party which turned the 60-year-old dream of Telangana into a reality.
She said that the Congress introduced and passed the Telangana Bill in both the Houses of Parliament.
She alleged that the BJP tried to obstruct the Bill till the last minute, while the TDP openly opposed it, especially in the Rajya Sabha.
Gandhi also said that Telangana Rashtra Samithi played no role in the formation of Telangana.
"While the TRS was formed in April 2001, about 40 Congress legislators from the region passed a resolution in September 2000 itself seeking statehood for the region. The resolution was submitted to me, and the Congress party began the process then itself," she claimed.
However, she attributed the delay in Telangana formation to a lack of consensus. She said that it took lot of time to convince other groups on the issue, and therefore the decision was delayed.
The Congress president also said that her party took a favourable decision not due to political compulsions, but to fulfill the wishes of 4 crore people.
Further, Telangana was also created to impart social justice and to ensure the political empowerment of Dalits, tribals, minorities, women and other oppressed classes, she added.
Praising the people of Telangana for protecting secularism in the region, she asked them to remain cautious against some forces which were trying to play divisive politics.
She accused the BJP of dividing the people, and also condemned the TDP for aligning with the BJP. She said that some more parties might join the BJP in the future due to their greed for power.
Stating that the people of Telangana had waited for almost 60 years to see their dream turn into a reality, she said that she had come to Karimnagar to participate in the celebrations.
"I salute the martyrs who laid down their lives seeking statehood for the region," she said, while praising the struggle of the farmers, youth, women, advocates, students, intellectuals, teachers, employees and all other sections which took part in the statehood movement.
Gandhi assured that the Congress party would fulfill all the promises being made to the people of both Telangana and Seemandhra. She said that the people of both the States were close to her heart, and that she would never disappoint them. Both the States would get their rights and due share.
She also listed out the election promises being made to the people of Telangana by the Congress. She indicated that the Pranahita Chevella project might be given the status of a national project.
"We will fulfill all the promises with honesty, transparency and accountability, and with the people's participation. The struggle period is over. Now we need a responsible government, and only Congress can provide it," she said.
She also advised the people of Telangana to maintain a cordial relationship with the people of Seemandhra.
Appealing to the people to vote in favour of the Congress candidates on April 30, Sonia Gandhi said that their votes would enable a State which could provide peace, social justice and equal opportunities to all.
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Working President C Uttam Kumar Reddy and former Deputy CM Damodar Rajanarasimha also addressed the meeting. The candidates of the Congress party were also introduced on the occasion. (INN)