Notwithstanding violent protests in Seemandhra, AICC State affairs incharge Digvijaya Singh said Sunday evening that Hyderabad, the bone of contention between Seemandhra and Telangana, will remain a part and parcel of the latter after division of the State.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, he explained that for 10 years after division of the State, the city will be under Central control, may be administered by the Governor. He, however, hastened to add there was no question of making it a Union Territory. “Seemandhra people can continue to live in Hyderabad peacefully. No one will ask them to leave,” he said. Digvijaya Singh also announced that the Telangana note will be referred to the State Assembly after President Pranab Mukherjee returns from abroad. The President is on a six-day visit to Belgium and Turkey, his maiden trip to Europe as Head of the State. He will be returning to Delhi on Oct 8.
Digvijaya Singh denied speculation that the Centre might bypass the State Assembly while taking forward the Telangana process. “We will not belittle the Assembly. The Telangana note will soon be sent to the Assembly for its views,” he said.
He also stressed the point that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy had earlier promised to the party high command that he would abide by its decision on Telangana. Condemning the attacks on PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana’s properties in Vizianagaram, he made it clear it was the responsibility of the Chief Minister to ensure law and order.
He, however, ruled out the possibility of imposing President’s rule. Sources said he had told Kiran to provide more security to Botcha’s properties in Vizianagaram.