Only resignations by MPs from the Telangana region on the statehood demand can force the Centre to take a decision on creation of Telangana state, information and public relations minister DK Aruna has said.
Turning the tables on MPs who are increasingly demanding the resignation of ministers from the region, she said that if ministers quit their posts, it would not result in emergence of a Telangana state but in collapse of the government and elections. She said that it was high time that MPs take a decision on resignations to achieve Telangana state.
A delegation of Congress MLAs, MLCs and DCC leaders from Mahbubnagar district has visited Delhi recently under the leadership of Aruna. It has met several AICC leaders and Union ministers and urged them to take a quick decision on Telangana as any further delay will damage the party’s electoral prospects in the region.
Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, Aruna took strong objection to a section of party leaders demanding ministers’ resignations on Telangana issue. She said creation of Telangana state was an issue that lay in the Centre’s domain and to be settled in Parliament. “If MPs quit to continue fight at the national level, Telangana state will be created very soon. Why are some of the leaders targeting ministers?” She wondered.
“In the past ministers and MLAs had sent their resignations to the party high command but that did not have any impact. Now it should be the turn of MPs to do so because the issue is within the jurisdiction of the Centre.
Aruna dismissed the charge made by some party colleagues that she visited Delhi at the behest of chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. “Do you believe the chief minister will allow any minister or MLA to visit Delhi with Telangana demand?’’ she countered and accused a section of Congress leaders and her political opponents of conducting a campaign to defame Kiran Kumar Reddy.