In the clearest indication that the Congress leadership is moving towards the formation of a separate state of Telangana, the party organised a massive show of strength in Hyderabad on Sunday giving a clarion call in favour of the new state.
Although the public meeting on the Nizam College Grounds was technically organised by Telangana leaders of the Congress party, sources said that such a massive show and clear stand in support of Telangana would not have been possible without a nod from the central leadership.
Nearly a lakh people attended the Telangana Sadhana Sabha from all over the region. This marks the end of the hide and seek between leaders of the region fearing the wrath of the high command.
Half a dozen MPs, several state ministers, legislators and other senior leaders rubbed shoulders as enthusiastic crowds cheered them. It was after a long time that such a spirited show of strength came from the Telangana Congress. The party had been at the receiving end for almost four years as other parties like Telangana Rashtra Samithi and the Bharatiya Janata Party stole the show with their clear stand in support of the separate state.
The meeting passed a resolution making it clear that nothing less than Telangana state will be acceptable to them. This was in a way a rebuttal of reports and speculations from Delhi that the Congress high command was toying with the idea of a financial package for Telangana to placate the people.
“Telangana region has a history of more than 3000 years. It has been fighting for its separate identity for the last sixty years,” said Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha, who made it clear that they wanted a Telangana state which existed till 1956.
He alleged that Telangana was given step motherly treatment in United Andhra Pradesh. “For the last 60 years the state was ruled by the chief ministers from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions,” he said.
Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah, who moved the resolution, said that it was the responsibility of the Congress to deliver the state. Another minister K Jana Reddy exuded confidence that Congress was going to achieve Telangana state under the leadership of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. “This meeting is organised to send a clear message that we want Telangana state,” he said.
MPs Madhu Yashki and Ponam Prabhkar said that only a national party like Congress can give Telangana state. Former state Congress president D Srinivas said that it was heartening to see people from all over the region come to Hyderabad to express their support for the cause of a separate state. “We have been fighting for a long time to achieve Telangana,” he said.
Another minister D Sridhar Babu brushed aside the claim of TRS and the BJP that only they had fought for Telangana state. “Congress is fighting for this cause for last 60 years. Congress was first to send the resolution to Sonia Gandhi in 2001 in support of Telangana,” he reminded the opponents.
At the same time the Congress leaders said that their fight for Telangana was also a fight to secure the future of the Congress party in the region. They gave a veiled warning that without Telangana state, future of the party in the region will be bleak.
Many leaders including Damodar Rajanarasimha and other ministers came to the venue of the meeting riding motorcycles while others walked to the venue with their supporters. People came in large numbers from all the districts.
Image: The Telangana Sadhana Sabha in Hyderabad saw people coming from all over the region
Photograph: Snaps India
