Reacting to Eluru MP Kavuri Sambhasiva Rao’s call to the Centre to frame a National Policy on smaller states, Telangana Rashtra Samithi MLA K Tarakarama Rao on Thursday alleged that the Congress leader was trying to divert the attention from the separate Telangana agitation which has reached a peak to protect his self interests and investments in the region.
Mr Sambhasiva Rao had on Wednesday urged the Centre to draft a National Policy on smaller states. Talking to media persons at TRS Bhavan, KTR described Mr Sambhasiva Rao and Vijayawada MP Lagadapathi Rajagopal as `opportunists and said they are playing the ‘integration’ tune to protect their economic and financial investments. “The two Seemandhra leaders are opposing the formation of Telangana state with an intention to protect their investments in Hyderabad,” he said. Rubbishing Mr Sambhasiva Rao’s statement that Hyderabad was developed with investments of Seemandhra leaders, he said the capital was developed by Nizams and so many other people. KTR added that the controversial statements by Seemandhra leaders would hurt the sentiments of the people of Telangana and provoke them. Stating that a section of Seemandhra leaders already favoured bifurcation of the state, the TRS MLA rubbished Mr Sambhasiva Rao’s comments that Potti Sriramu soul would not find peace in the event of formation of Telangana state. “When there are more than five Hindi speaking states existing in the country, there is nothing wrong in the existence of two Telugu speaking states,” he said. The TRS MLA expressed confidence that the Congress Core Committee would find a favourable and permanent solution to separate statehood demand soon. KTR also appealed to YSR Congress Party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy to take a favourable decision on Telangana in his party’s maiden plenary session to be held from July 8 at Indupulapaya.