Telangana stir may turn violent, warn leaders

HYDERABAD: Several Telangana political leaders predict that the Sakala Janula Samme will turn into a revolution if the Centre continues to delay creation of a separate Telangana state. Exuding confidence that Telangana state will be a reality and even God cannot thwart it, they, however, see the utmost need for political unity to achieve their objective.BJP senior leader and former Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya organised Alai-Balai programme at Jala Vihar here on Friday.It was attended by leaders of the Congress, BJP, TDP, YSRC and CPI-ML (ND). Telangana Praja Front (TPF) president Gadar and Telangana United Forum (TUF) leaders and representatives of a crosssection of Telangana society also attended the programme.Home minister Sabita Indra Reddy, who was the chief guest, shouted the ‘Jai Telangana’ slogan for the first time and declared her commitment to the Telangana cause.“If I decide to quit the cabinet, no one can stop me,’’ she thundered.She said she was member of a national party which was in power at the Centre and in the state, and had constraints on taking on-thespot decisions.“My participation in this programme shows my commitment to Telangana statehood.” She recalled her husband P Indra Reddy’s service to the Telangana cause and said people were also well aware of her contribution to the Telangana movement.She wished Keshava Rao and other leaders success in their efforts on Telangana.The home minister said she had ordered an inquiry into the alleged attack on TNGO leader Swami Goud and a report was awaited for taking action.She said she directed police personnel not to cause human loss while dealing with the Telangana agitators.Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member K Keshava Rao said Telangana people did not attach much importance to the comments made by Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and said even God could not stop formation of T state.He said they had clarified to the prime minister that there would be political death to all Telangana Congress leaders if Telangana was not made a state.He also called for political unity to achieve the objective.Freedom fighter Konda Laxman Bapuji warned that if the Centre dilly-dallied further the present movement would take a violent turn and might to lead to a situation like India-Pakistan partition.But such a situation was not good for Telugu people, he said.Telangana Joint Action Committee chairman M Kodandaram echoed Bapuji’s warning and said indirectly that any delay might lead to a violent movement.BJP state president G Kishan Reddy said that all the political parties should be held responsible for the present situation.Congress MPs V Hanumanta Rao, Y Madhu Goud Yashiki and G Vivekananda, Telangana Telugu Desam Forum convener E Dayakar Rao, Congress leader and former minister Jupally Krishna Rao, educationist and MLC Chukka Ramaiah, retired judge Subashan Reddy, former governors R Satyanarayana Reddy and V Rama Rao also attended.Batukamma, Kolatam, Pothuraju and other Telangana cultural events were held during the day-long programme.Rasamai Balkishan, Goreti Venkanna, Madhu Priya several other singers sang special Telangana songs on Telangana movement