Kiran to lead Seemandhra March in Delhi
HYDERABAD: At a time when the central government and the Congress high command are categorically saying that they are firm on completing the process of bifurcation of the state by February 25, some Seemandhra Congress leaders, under the leadership of chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, have decided to go to Delhi to call on President Pranab Mukherjee to plead with him to recommend to the Centre not to introduce the Telangana bill in Parliament.
According to an MP close to the chief minister, Kiran will lead the Seemandhra Congress leaders' team to Delhi either on Sunday or Monday. Interestingly, the chief minister, in all likelihood, will lead a padayatra from AP Bhavan to Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi with Seemandhra congress leaders seeking state's unity. The demonstration is likely to be undertaken on Monday.
'As the Parliament session is commencing on February 5, we plan to meet the President by then to present our case,' said the MP. Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao said Seemandhra Congress lawmakers were planning to undertake a deeksha at Jantar Mantar in Delhi under the leadership of Kiran to urge the Centre not to introduce the T-bill in Parliament as the Assembly rejected it.
Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal said that if the chief minister sat on a deeksha in Delhi in support of Samaikyandhra, all other Congress lawmakers from Seemandhra would follow him. He disclosed that they formulated a strategy to exert pressure on the Centre by building a mass movement against introduction of T-bill in Parliament.
According to sources, the chief minister's camp is also exploring options to challenge the bill in a court of law. 'We are consulting legal luminaries on when to and how to challenge the Centre's decision to bifurcate AP.
As the Assembly has rejected the bill, we have found a firm ground to legally challenge the Centre's decision. But, it will be our last option,' said a minister close to Kiran.
Telangana Congress leaders have also decided to present themselves in Delhi after Monday to lobby with their bosses for introduction of bill in Parliament, according to government chief whip Gandra Venkataramana Reddy.
News Posted: 1 February, 2014
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