T Cong leaders seek to prove legitimacy of demand before Azad

Congress leaders from Telangana on Wednesday did their best to impress party In-Charge of Andhra Pradesh Affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad that their demand of separate Telangana state is legitimate, by giving a PowerPoint presentation during their meeting here.

Minister for Information Technology Ponnala Lakshmaiah made a presentation on the state of irrigation and agriculture in the region, to prove that the two areas lagged behind the Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions in terms of development.

The sharing of water resources has been one of the main grouse of the people of Telangana and has largely been the motivator for many a political leader to pitch in the separate statehood demand.

Besides Mr Lakshmaiah’s presentation, MP G Vivek tried to convince Mr Azad on the need for making Hyderabad the capital of the future Telangana state.

The future of the city is seen to be the most contentious of the issues, and a solution is very hard to come by.

This was the second such meeting of the Telangana Congress leaders’ meeting with Mr Azad in as many days. During yesterday’s meeting, Mr Azad had asked the Telangana leaders to arrange a copy of the speech made by former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy on February 12, 2009 on the Floor of the House.

After giving the Ministers, MPs and MLAs a patient hearing, Mr Azad on his part said that he would again talk to them after completing his discussions with Seemandhra leaders.

Mr Azad is believed to have told the delegation that he intends to complete the process of consultations within two months.

He is expected to meet a delegation of Seemandhra leaders on Thursday and hold discussions on them over the vexed separate Telangana statehood issued.