No Telangana resolution in AP assembly, says CM

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday ruled out passing a resolution in the assembly seeking creation of separate Telangana and asserted that no one could force the Centre to take a decision on the bifurcation of the state.

"Political parties, except one or two, are grossly divided on regional lines. So naturally any resolution on the statehood issue will be defeated in the House. I told the Telangana Rashtra Samiti MLAs clearly that any resolution on Telangana (in the assembly) can be contrary to their liking," he told mediaperons during an informal chat after the House was adjourned for the day.

Questioned about the then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's statement (on December 9, 2009) that the process for creation of Telangana would be initiated after a resolution in the assembly, Kiran remarked: "Indira Gandhi also made a statement in Parliament in 1969-70 (on Telangana). Jawaharlal Nehru came here to find a solution but the Telangana issue remained unresolved for the last 50 years."

It was a sensitive issue and no one could force the Centre to take a decision, he said.

"The government is strong in Delhi to take a decision. It has to take all issues into consideration while taking a decision in the interest of the state and the country. The government should protect interests of all people."

Kiran, however, hoped the Centre would come out with a decision soon on the vexatious statehood issue.        The CM recalled that agitation for a separate Telangana state was more intense in 1969.

"I was in school at that time. The situation was more intense then," he said, referring to the ongoing agitation for a separate state.

Earlier, Telangana Rashtra Samithi members disrupted the assembly proceedings on the first day of the monsoon session demanding a resolution seeking creation of Telangana state.

The House was adjourned for the day without transacting any business as members of other Opposition parties like Telugu Desam Party, YSR Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party, too, raised different issues.

As two adjournments did not bring order in the House, Speaker Nadendla Manohar adjourned it for the day.