Sonia asks T leaders not to hurt Seemandhra people

NEW DELHI: It was no less ironic that Manmohan Singh delivered his last Parliamentary speech as Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha ' the House of people's representatives of which he was never a member.

As the curtains fell on the 15th Lok Sabha ' by far, the most disruption-filled since Independence ' it in a way also marked the end of the Singh era. And the Prime Minister, on the home stretch, tried to eke out a positive message.

'The manner in which Telangana was born is an indication that this country is capable of taking difficult decisions,' Singh said, bidding farewell to the members and rounding off the valedictory speeches of the last session.

Never mind, he had himself just a few days ago reacted with a sharp remark that his 'heart bleeds to see what is happening in Parliament', the physical fights, sloganeering and the deafening acrimony. He overlooked the negativity.

Instead, like all the members and seniors in the House, the PM chose to remember the 'landmark bills', including Food Security and Lokpal, passed by the House and which he said would leave a deep imprint on the polity and lives of the poor and underprivileged.

As if he was leaving a message for posterity, Singh said, when it was required the House could come together 'without any rancor, without worrying much about the pros and cons of things that do not matter'.

That the birth of the 29th State was on the top of the PM's mind was evident as he went on to add, 'We can take pride in the fact that the Telangana State whose quest for being born was pending for the last 60 years, has ultimately seen the light of the day.'

And, even as he basked in the T glory, Congress president Sonia Gandhi sought to reach out to Seemandhra. She directed party leaders from Telangana not to make statements that could further hurt Seemandhra's sentiments.

'Till the other day, you had been victims in a united State. But now after bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Seemandhra people believe they are the victims. It is your responsibility to placate them. They are your brothers. Treat them as such and try not to hurt them,' she told a delegation of T Congress leaders as well as members of the Telangana Joint Action Committee.

The delegation, headed by K Jana Reddy and C Damodara Rajanarasimha, called on her at her 10 Janpath residence to thank her for delivering the T State. TJAC leaders under the leadership of Prof M Kodandaram also met her separately. Interestingly, she warned them that if any harsh remarks were made, she would never visit Telangana.

'We have requested Madam Sonia Gandhi to attend the massive public meeting we are planning in Hyderabad shortly to spread the word that because of her firm resolve alone that the T state has become a reality. She positively responded to our plea,' said Jana Reddy.