TRS asks for TDP letter on 'T' to withdraw from by-polls

Telangana Rashtra Samithi deputy floor leader T Harish Rao on Tuesday stated that his party was ready to work with Telugu Desam Party if it provides a letter to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram making its stand clear on Telangana statehood demand. Talking to media persons at Assembly media point, Harish Rao recalled that Chidambaram had sought a letter from the all political parties, especially the TDP and Congress to resolve the issue in a speedy manner. If TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu writes a letter, he said the TRS was ready to withdraw from the by-elections scene.

Stating that the TRS was not contesting the elections to come to power, he said the ultimate goal of TRS was to achieve a separate Telangana state for the people of the region. Condemning TDP remarks to boycott by-elections to mount pressure on the Centre, he asked TDP how it could press for Telangana demand without having MLAs in the House. Harish Rao also stated that the TRS would extend cooperation to the government if it announces exact time frame and date for introducing a resolution on Telangana in the state assembly. He made it clear that the TRS would not allow the House to function without moving a resolution on Telangana demand. “The TRS will not allow the House to transact any business without moving resolution on Telangana," he said.

The TRS leader asked the government to explain why it was not  responding on Telangana resolution despite TRS making its stand clear during the Business Advisory Committee meeting. TRS floor leader Etela Rajender demanded that the government lift police cases against Telangana activists and students as promised earlier and allow them to attend the competitive examinations. He advised Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha and Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy to take suitable measures in this direction. Etala warned the government of serious consequences if it failed to honour promise and lift the cases.