Defending himself by saying that his proposal of Hyderabad as a common capital for ten years was made with noble intentions, Rajya Sabha Member V Hanumantha Rao on Thursday lashed out at Seemandhra leaders for criticising his goodwill gesture and making provocative speeches.
Talking to media persons here, Mr Hanumantha Rao said that he had come up with the common capital proposal as part of his efforts to help find a peaceful solution towards the controversial statehood issue.
“The proposal was made with the intention of making peace by uniting all Telugu speaking people, cutting across regional lines, like brothers in a family. However, the Seemandhra leaders have not responded favourably to the proposal and instead are making provocative speeches, hurting the sentiments of people,” the seasoned politician rued.
Mr Hanumantha Rao cautioned that the same leaders would be held responsible for any serious consequences which could arise because of their provocative speeches.
He also advised Eluru MP Kavuri Sambhasiva Rao not to make provocative speeches hurting the people’s sentiments.
“When the Centre and Congress In-Charge of Andhra Pradesh Affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad are making total efforts for solving the issue, the provocative statements by Seemandhra leaders would hamper the process,” the MP stated.
Responding on Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal offer of giving up his properties in the event of the Telangana leaders ‘dropping’ their Telangana statehood agenda, the Rajya Sabha Member said that, “We do not want any properties of Seemandhra leaders. Except Telangana we do not want any properties or posts.”
“They (the Seemandhra people) can continue their businesses in Telangana as usual. We are demanding Telangana so that we can provide administration ourselves and doing justice to the people in job opportunities,” Mr Hanumantha Rao said.
He also asked TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu to make his stand clear on Telangana statehood demand instead of demanding YSR Congress Party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy to clarify his own stand.