We will unite forces and pull down the state govt: TRS

Condemning the Centre and the Congress for their ‘failure’ to arrive at a decision on the statehood issue, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi on Sunday demanded the resignation of Congress Members of Legislative Assembly and Members of Legislative Council from the region and also warned that it will intensify the agitation for a separate state.

Alleging that Congress has betrayed the people of Telangana, TRS leaders said that Congress ministers, MLAs and MLCs from the region should quit their posts immediately and join the movement for separate statehood.

TRS MLA Harish Rao accused the Congress of dragging the issue and added "repeated postponements on taking a decision cannot resolve the Telangana issue."

"Considering today's development, it seems the Congress is not interested in resolving the issue. They (Congress leaders) should leave the Congress and join the agitation in support of a separate Telangana," he said, warning, "We will unite all the forces and try to pull down the (state) government."

He said the future course of action will be discussed with party chief K Chandrasekhara Rao and leaders of other pro-Telangana organisations.

TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao's son and MLA from Sircilla K T Rama Rao said, "It (resignations) will put pressure on (Congress) high command to take a final decision on Telangana. This is the right time for them (Congress leaders) to quit their posts. If they fail to do so, the people of Telangana will teach them a fitting lesson".

Stating that their ultimate goal was to achieve separate Telangana, Rama Rao, who participated in the ongoing 'Samara Deeksha' protest of Telangana-JAC at Indira Park in Hyderabad on Sunday, said, "We will take the Telangana movement forward".
   
Meanwhile, the Osmania University students-Joint Action Committee also demanded resignations of Congress leaders. After being denied permission to take out a rally from the campus on Sunday, the protesting students hurled stones at the police.

It has also given a bandh call in the Telangana region for January 29.

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who had in December set a one-month deadline for a decision, said earlier in the day that the consultation process was underway.

"It may take a little more time to reach a final decision," he said in a brief statement in Delhi.

Congress general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad also spoke on similar lines, saying further consultations with leaders from the state were required.