Accusing Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha of having insulted the people of Telangana, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ch Vidyasagar Rao on Sunday alleged that he was elevated to the post as part of a conspiracy hatched by Congress leaders to ‘water down’ the Telangana agitation.
Talking to media persons after taking part in the Vanta Varpu programme at Liberty Circle in response to the call by the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee, Mr Vidyasagar Rao said that Mr Rajanarasimha had fallen prey to the Congress’s machinations and had accepted the post of Deputy Chief Minister.
“He has insulted by people of Telangana by accepting the post. Being from Telangana, Mr Rajanarasimha should have never accepted the post and instead pushed for separate statehood,” the senior BJP leader said.
However, Mr Vidyasagar Rao made it clear that no one can stop the agitation for the separate state by luring them with posts and other inducements.
“The leaders from Seemandhra region, who had violated the Gentlemen’s Agreement made in 1956, are now making efforts to douse the Telangana agitation,” he added.
The BJP leader also objected to the statement issued by Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal that Seemandhra leaders would get more than 245 seats if the elections were conducted to Assembly on the issue of bifurcation of the state.
Mr Vidyasagar Rao described the statement as ‘provocative and hurtful.’
He also expressed confidence that Vanta Varpu programme would help in mounting pressure on the Centre to introduce T Bill in Parliament in the Monsoon Session.
Another senior BJP leader Bandaru Dattatreya blamed the Telangana Congress leaders for their lack of commitment towards Telangana state formation. “If the Telangana Congress leaders submit their resignations en mass, Telangana could have been achieved long ago,” Mr Dattatreya opined.
A large number of BJP leaders and women participated in the Vanta Varpu programme. They prepared meals for about a 1000 persons.