Decision on T within 70 days, postpone strike: Shankar Rao

Handlooms and Textiles Minister P Shankar Rao on Saturday wondered why the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee was unwilling to wait another 70 days for the Centre to take a positive separate statehood decision when the issue had been delayed for decades.

Talking to media persons at the Congress Legislature Party Office, Dr Shankar Rao said that his personal observations have led him to be sure that the Centre will announce a positive decision by mid-October.

“Please wait for another 70 days. The Centre will make a favourable decision on Telangana and announce this,” he said.

Dr Shankar Rao also appealed to the various Joint Action Committees, especially the TPJAC and the employees’ JAC to postpone their strike till after October.

When asked if he and his Cabinet colleagues would continue to work as per their routine till October, Dr Shankar Rao said that, “I am still a Minister in the state Cabinet as my resignation has not been accepted yet. I will continue to be a Minister till such time. I have received indications that the Centre will take a decision by mid-October.”

“What did the Telangana movement gain by the resignations? Our resignations were rejected and it is clear that we have to wait for the Centre to take its own decision at the time it sees appropriate,” the Minister said.