AP Congress steps up Telangana demand

Stepping up their efforts to form a separate Telangana, ruling Congress leaders from the region on Sunday said they were prepared to quit their posts for the cause and also threatened to go on a Gandhian fast if police cases against students were not withdrawn forthwith.

"If the government withdraws the police cases against students from the region by evening, it is fine. Otherwise, Telangana Congress members of Parliament would go on fast from tomorrow. It is a Gandhian fast," Congress Rajya Sabha member K Keshav Rao told mediapersons in Hyderabad after a meeting.

Andhra Pradesh ministers from Telangana, who attended the meeting, will speak to the Chief Minister about withdrawal of police cases against pro-statehood students, he said.

The Congress MPs, ministers, members of Legislative Assembly and other leaders from the region held a meeting to chalk out their future course of action as the Centre-appointed Srikrishna Committee is scheduled to submit its report on the statehood issue by the end of this month.

Expressing the hope that the Centre would agree for a Telangana state, Rao said all Congress public representatives are ready to quit their posts in support of the demand.

"We are fully confident that Telangana statehood will be realised. Since there is no compromise on this issue, all the MLAs, MPs and even MLCs will submit their resignations if the goal is not realised."

Withdrawal of police cases against students and other Telangana supporters, who took part in the recent agitations, is a demand that has been voiced by ruling Congress, Telugu Desam Party, Telangana Rashtra Samithi, and all other Telangana outfits.