Congress betraying people demanding separate Telangana state: BJP

Prakash-JavadekarNew Delhi, Jan 29 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday lashed out at the UPA Government for deferring a decision on whether Andhra Pradesh should be split to create a separate state, saying the ruling Congress Party at the Centre has consistently betrayed the people demanding a separate state of Telangana.

"We condemn this consistent betrayal by Congress Party of the feelings and aspirations of people in Telangana. Telangana is a demand for justice, they (government) promised in December 9 that process of formation of separate state of Telangana has begun, Chidambaram (the then Home Minister) said that it has began and it was halted the same day," said BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar.

"So that is the Congress Party politics, they say one thing and do exactly the opposite," he added.

Pro-Telangana protests intensified in Hyderabad yesterday against the Central Government deferring a decision on whether Andhra Pradesh should be split to create a separate state.

The angry pro-Telangana protesters here tried to break police barricades today as they made their way to Indira Park, where a large protest is being held. They also clashed with the police personnel on duty.

Congress Party yesterday played safe on the Telangana statehood demand, saying it is a very sensitive matter and a decision in this regard would be taken at an appropriate time.

Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said the sentiments of the people of Andhra are attached to the Telangana statehood issue.

"The Telangana issue is a very sensitive issue. It is an emotional issue. Sentiments of the people of Andhra are attached to it. Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is the in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, has already given his statement in this regard. At an appropriate time, the decision will be taken and will be announced," he said.

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde made it clear on Sunday that a decision on the contentious Telangana statehood demand will be delayed further, as the government needed more time to arrive at a final decision on the issue.

Shinde had set a one-month deadline for a decision in December when he had invited two representatives from each party to know their views afresh on the Telangana issue in New Delhi.

The meeting was held to bring out the views of all parties on the demand to create a separate Telangana state.

The four-decade-old demand for Telangana, which is to be carved out of the economically less developed part of Andhra Pradesh, gathered momentum after the Congress party ruled government accepted the demand in principle. (ANI)