'Samme' loses Congress MLAs' support

Taking a complete U-turn, Congress MLAs from the Telangana region have partially withdrawn their support that they extended to Sakala Janula Samme, the people's general strike, demanding statehood for Telangana.

Talking to reporters at the Congress Legislature Party office here on Tuesday, seven Congress MLAs asked the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee to exempt certain services from the general strike. Citing pressure from the parents, the Congress MLAs asked the JAC to exempt the educational institutions from the general strike. "Parents are worried about the future of their children due to the continued strike. Therefore, in view of the parents' concerns and children's future, all educational institutions must be exempted from the strike," demanded Manokondur MLA Arepally Mohan.

"Since a majority of students across the Telangana region use public transport to reach their schools or colleges, the RTC strike should also be withdrawn," Mohan demanded. Further, he said since farmers would be losing one entire crop if they do not get proper supply of electricity, the SCCL employees should also withdraw the strike. He said all services that could affect the power generation or supply to the agricultural sector must be exempted from the general strike.

However, Mohan said, employees related with departments other than education, RTC, SCCL and energy, could continue with the strike.

MLAs Ch Muthyam Reddy, K Laxma Reddy, T Narsa Reddy, K Sridhar, Kavitha and Bandari Raji Reddy were also present during the press conference. Earlier, barring Muthyam Reddy all other MLAs met Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy at his camp office on Tuesday morning.

Defending the Chief Minsiter, MLA Laxma Reddy said that it was wrong to accuse Kiran Kumar Reddy for the political chaos that resulted due to the general strike. "Kiran Kumar Reddy never spoke anything against the Telangana. As a Chief Minister he is responsible for running the entire State and therefore, he might have adopted a harsh tone while appealing for withdrawal of strike," he said.

However, Muthyam Reddy gave an entirely different version of Congress participation in the Telangana agitation. "As MLAs we are helpless. We are not being consulted by the Centre or the High Command on the issue. Our MPs are handling the issue and therefore, they must be held accountable for the outcome," he said.

Muthyam Reddy asked the general public to question the MPs who are in the forefront of consultations with the High Command and spare the Congress MLAs who have become non-entities in the process of resolution of Telangana issue.