T-Decision TBA Before Budget Session: Cong MLAs

Congress MLAs from the Telangana region on Friday claimed that the Centre would announce its decision on Telangana before the budget session of the Parliament next month.

Talking to reporters after holding a meeting at the Congress Legislature Party office here, Government Whip Anil Kumar said that the Centre has already begun the process of the formation of a Telangana state. He said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh were in favour of giving statehood to the region. However, he said, due to some reasons, the announcement of the decision was deferred on January 28.

Anil Kumar said that the Centre was actively considering representations made by the public representatives and recommendations of Union Home Ministry and Srikrishna Committee on the statehood issue. He said that the Centre would announce its decision soon.

The Congress MLAs have requested the youth not to resort to extreme steps like suicide, and, instead divert their energies towards the growth and development of the region.

The meeting was attended by 12 MLAs including Gandra Venkataramana Reddy, Lakshma Reddy and Bhikshamaiah Goud. Announcing that another meeting with Telangana ministers and MLAs would be held soon, they made it clear that they were ready to resign from their posts, if need arises. (INN)