T-Cong MPs meet Sonia over statehood issue

The Telangana Congress MPs on Monday called upon Congress President Sonia Gandhi requesting her to announce decision on the statehood issue by December 9.

The MPs including Ponnam Prabhakhar, G Vivek, Manda Jagannatham, S Rajaiah and Madhu Yashki Goud had a meeting with Sonia Gandhi and AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi in the Parliament Hall here. In their note given to Sonia Gandhi, the MPs informed her that the political situation in the region has become volatile and therefore, the Congress party should announce its decision immediately. However, they reportedly conveyed to Sonia that the MPs would be forced to decide their own future course of action if the party fails to announce Telangana by December 9, the third anniversary of the announcement made by the Centre on formation of new State.

The Congress MPs also demanded that the Telangana issue be debated in the Parliament and they be given an opportunity to speak on the same. Sources say that Sonia has reportedly assured the MPs that the issue would be resolved soon.

It may be mentioned that after holding a meeting at the residence of Nagarkurnool MP Manda Jagganatham late Sunday night, the Telangana Congress MPs and former MP K Keshava Rao announced that if the leadership failed to make an announcement by December 9, they would be forced to take a key decision. They also warned that the Congress party would have no future in the region.

The Congress MPs from the region are not attending the winter session of Parliament. However, they have staged protest in the premises of Parliament House on Thursday and Friday.