Congress to 'protect' Seemandhra people in TS

HYDERABAD: Overcoming their inhibitions in allaying the fears of Seemandhra people living in Telangana, particularly in Hyderabad, the TS Congress leaders on Monday openly vowed to stand for the rights of Andhras in the new State henceforth.

They even passed a resolution in the final day session of the TPCC brainstorming meeting to this effect and sent out clear signals to the TRS government that the TPCC would also fight for the rights of the Andhras in the new State.

Eying the ensuing polls to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in which Andhra people constitute a fairly large number of population, for the first time after the general polls, Telangana Congress leaders alleged that the TRS government was trying to create a sense of insecurity among the Seemandhras in Hyderabad with its recent decisions.

The TS Congress leaders such as TPCC chief Ponnala Lakshmaiah and Danam Nagender, who had been hesitating to openly attack the ruling TRS in the new State till the other day, took potshots at the recent decisions of the State government on Monday.

Giving further strength to the T-Congress leaders, AICC state affairs incharge Digvijaya Singh too joined chorus with them in stating that their party would not allow the TS government to take decisions which alienate Andhras in the new State from the rest of the people of the Telangana.

While delivering the concluding address during the second and final day of the two-day brainstorming session of the TPCC, held at Ibrahimpatnam on the outskirts of Hyderabad on Monday, Digvijaya Singh said, 'If the Telangana government tries to differentiate between the people in the new State, Congress party would fight against such acts.'

Stating that the Constitution has provided rights to every citizen of the country to live anywhere in the country, Digvijaya said the Congress would stand for the rights of Seemandhra people in Hyderabad.

'Anyone can live in Hyderabad and do business. If the government shows any form of discrimination towards anybody, the Congress will fight it,' Digvijaya said.

EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL

The Congress leaders passed a resolution stating that every person from other States, who had made Telangana his home, will have full rights on a par with the natives of the State.

If the TS government adopts any sort of discriminatory attitude against the people of Seemandhra, living in Hyderabad or somewhere else in Telangana, the Congress will not keep quiet, the TPCC leaders proclaimed in their resolution.