Cong Legislators in bind over noncooperation stir

The predicament being faced by the Congress Legislators from Telangana over taking part in the ‘noncooperation’ agitation was quite glaringly brought before media persons on Sunday by MLA Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy.

Talking to media persons at his residence in Jubilee Hills, Mr Venkata Ramana Reddy stated that being the ruling party MLAs, he and his colleagues cannot take part in the agitation which would start from February 17, though they are keen to do so.

He said that apart from facing the ire of their voters, the Legislators would be seen as ‘traitors’ if they do not take part in the agitation, but would be going against precedent if they agitate against the government.

Mr Venkata Ramana Reddy wondered how the ruling parties MLAs could support the non-cooperation movement called by the Political JAC.

Hoping to escape being trapped, he said that the Telangana Congress MLAs will meet Congress Core Committee members on February 14 in New Delhi to mount pressure on government over the introduction of Telangana Bill in the Budget Session of Parliament. 

Mr Venkata Ramana Reddy said the MLAs will stay in New Delhi for three days and will seek consultations with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Congress Core Committee members Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram, A K Anthony and Ms Gandhi’s political advisor Ahmed Patel.

He said the Congress MLAs would demand that the High Command make its stand clear on the introduction of the Telangana Bill and would also seek a concrete assurance on the issue.

Reminding that Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao had stated that he would merge his party with Congress in the event of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Mr Venkata Ramana Reddy invited KCR to follow the example of the Praja Rajyam Party and agree to the merger.

This would strengthen the Congress, he said.