T-Bill is an attack on Telugu self-respect: Dronamraju

Hyderabad, Jan 22 (INN): Government Whip Dronamraju Srinivas on Wednesday described the draft Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill as an attack on the self-respect of the Telugu people.

Participating in the debate on Telangana Bill in the State Legislative Assembly, Srinivas said that the Telangana Bill was unconstitutional and the Centre was trying to impose its will upon the Telugu people. Demanding that the Centre roll back its decision to bifurcate the State, he said there were no valid reasons to carve out the Telangana State.

He dismissed the allegations that Telangana district was subjected to discrimination by the Seemandhra rulers. He said that from Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy to Kiran Kumar Reddy, who hailed from Seemandhra acted as the Chief Ministers of entire State.

Similarly, he said that the leadership of Marri Chenna Reddy and PV Narasimha Rao, who hailed from Telangana, was endorsed and accepted by the people of Seemandhra.

Srinivas alleged that the draft Bill, sent by the President of India, for views lacked any objective. He asked as to how the Bill could be debated in the House with no clarity on its objectives. He claimed that the Seemandhra people have made lot of contribution in the development of Hyderabad city.

He alleged that one Telangana leader warned that the tongues of Seemandhra people would be cut if they claimed Hyderabad was theirs. The same Telangana leader has also asked even the Chief Minister to open a curry point in Hyderabad after bifurcation of the State.

Srinivas alleged that Telangana JAC leader Prof Kodanda Ram also gave a call to the Telangana people to boycott the products of the industries which were owned by Seemandhra industrialists. He described such remarks as an insult to all Telugu people and highly condemnable. He expressed regret over Telangana MLAs praising the Nizam rule.

The speech of Srinivas was marred by protests by Telangana MLAs on multiple occasions. Government Chief Whip Gandra Venkataramana Reddy once requested Speaker Nadendla Manohar to stop Srinivas' mike.

The MIM members stormed into the well of the House objection to his mention of Nizam. MIM MLA Ahmed Pasha Quadri complained that Urdu translation was not available to the members and questioned as to what was the link between the draft Telangana Bill and the Nizam.

When the TRS members objected over usage of an "unparliamentary" words by Srinivas, the Speaker assured them that such words would be automatically expunged from the records of the House.

He also advised the members to be careful in choosing the words while speaking in the House. Congress legislator from Telangana, Anil, alleged that the comments made by Srinivas amounted to insulting the Telangana people.

TDP legislator from Telangana Errabelli Dayakar Rao alleged that Kiran Kumar Reddy Government denied permission for pro-Telangana organisations to hold meetings, while it permitted the meetings of pro-Samaikhyandhra organsations.