Describing the Congress as the ‘prime accused’ in cheating the people of Telangana, senior Telugu Desam Party leader Kadiam Srihari on Thursday said that Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s comments made on Wednesday on the separate statehood demand are evidence that the Centre is planning to water down the Telangana agitation. Talking to media persons after emerging out of the party’s politburo meeting at NTR Trust Bhavan, Mr Srihari said that Mr Chidambaram statements are ‘most irresponsible’ and made with an intention to delay an announcement on the Telangana demand. Mr Chidambaram had told a delegation of elected representatives from the Congress that All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi will take final decision on the separate Telangana demand and he is not the right person to talk to. The TDP leader further stated that the failure of the MPs to get a concrete assurance has exposed their inefficiency on the Telangana demand. “Now it is up to the members of the delegation to convince the people of Telangana on the reasons behind their failure,” said Mr Srihari. He continued, “the Congress is the `prime accused’ of cheating people of the region on Telangana issue, right from the start (of the agitation).” The senior TDP leader also demanded that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi and Telangana Political Joint Action Committee respond on the issue immediately. Speaking at the same press meeting, party MP Ramesh Rathod demanded that the Centre introduce Telangana Bill in the Monsoon Session of Parliament, tentatively set to begin from July 2. “I am ready to submit my resignation if it helps in getting the Telangana Bill introduced in the Monsoon Session of Parliament,” Mr Rathod added. The TDP MP further challenged the TRS and Congress Members if they are ready to resign to their posts for the sake of Telangana.