Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP V Hanumantha Rao on Monday claimed that people in Telangana strongly believe that only Congress party could grant statehood for the region.
Talking to reporters at his residence, Hanumantha Rao said that Congress candidate Srinivas Goud securing his deposits in Banswada assembly by-elections is a proof that people have confidence that Congress party would take a favourable decision on Telangana statehood demand. He reiterated that only Congress party could give Telangana State. However, he warned that the survival of party in the region would be in danger if the Centre takes any decision against the statehood demand.
Hanumantha Rao said that the Congress leaders would not tolerate if anyone makes statements against Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. He also differed with a section of leaders who alleged that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was taking revenge on Telangana leaders by foisting false cases. He said the MPs have been arrested in Rail Roko due to police highhandedness.
The Rajya Sabha MP ridiculed YSR Congress president Jaganmohan Reddy for continuing Odarpu Yatra despite the fact that his father and former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy passed away more than two years ago. He asked Jagan to explain the rationale behind organising the Odarpu Yatra.