KCR demands apology from Ministers

Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao on Monday demanded an apology from the ministers of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions who called the seekers of Telangana state as traitors of the nation.

If they fail to apologise, such people would not be allowed to step into Telangana region, he warned.

Addressing a meeting at the Telangana  Bhavan here, he said the TRS, Telangana Joint Action Committee, students' groups and all other organizations fighting for a separate Telangana should not allow the ministers to move in the region unless they apologise.

The ministers in their representation to the Sri Krishna Committee, last week reportedly termed the Telangana movement as 'anti national', 'seditious' and a 'threat to the integrity of the nation'. The ministers also wanted the demand for a separate Telangana be treated as a cognizable offence.

The Endowments Minister G.Venkat Reddy, who led the delegation of 16 ministers, on Monday denied describing the Telangana movement as "anti-national".  But this  failed to assuage the ruffled feelings of Telangana protagonists.

For the second consecutive day, TRS activists staged road blockades in different parts of Telangana protesting the minister's remark.

``Out of sheer arrogance the minister termed the Telangana  maovement as anti-national,’’ Kcr noted.  His party MLAs had already urged Governor ESL Narasimhan to dismiss these ministers.

On the other hand, the Congress leaders stoond vertically divided over the issue. Some Congress leaders including MPs from Telangana have called for a boycott of the ministers while others sought an unconditional apology.