'Don't set deadlines for high command'
Making light of the decision of Telangana Congress MPs G Vivekananda and Manda Jagannadham, and former PCC chief K Kesava Rao to join the TRS, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has said in a stern voice, “None should challenge the Congress high command by setting deadlines for it on any issue. I don’t think our party leadership will ever yield to such deadlines.”
Stating that Telangana was not an easy issue to be resolved in a day or two, he said that one should have the patience to wait till the Congress high command found an amicable solution to the vexatious issue in a manner acceptable to the people of all the regions of the state.
Soon after holding meetings with his party leadership in Delhi on Thursday, the chief minister addressed the media there.
When reporters sought his reaction to the decision of the two Congress MPs to join the TRS, Kiran said it was not appropriate for anybody in the Congress to set a deadline for the high command on any issue including Telangana.
Making light of the decision of the two Telangana Congress MPs to join the separatist party, he said, “Congress is a democratic party. Every individual in the party has got freedom to join the party of his or her choice.”
Referring to Telangana, he said several issues were involved in it and all these should be taken into account while taking a decision. “The Telangana issue is complex as well as sensitive. It is not confined to the state. There are several such demands across the country. The Centre has to consider all factors before finalising its stance. The Congress high command has been trying to find a final solution to it in a way to be acceptable to the people of all the regions of the state.”
Recalling that the issue had been hanging fire for years, he said the Congress high command as well as the central government would arrive at a decision soon on the issue.
“I, therefore, call upon all the Congress leaders from all regions to be patient and wait till the high command announces its decision.”
Asked if he received the high command’s nod to overhaul the cabinet, Kiran tried to evade a straight answer. “If, at all, I revamp the cabinet, I will let you know (media),” was all that he said.