Diggy has a way with words
With its ambiguous statements on the Telangana issue, the Congress high command has left leaders on both sides of the divide in the State bewildered. Days after “dropping hints” on possible division of the State, AICC state affairs incharge Digvijaya Singh on Monday held out hope for both.
When leaders of the Osmania University Joint Action Committee (OU JAC)called on him at his office in Delhi, he received them cordially and talked with them for over 20 minutes in a “positive manner”. OU JAC leader Shubhaprada Patel told Express that Singh indicated a decision would be taken in a fortnight.
“Though he did not reveal what it might be, he told us it will be positive. He asked us to call upon youngsters in Telangana not to commit suicide,” he said. Asked if Singh had given them sweets as was widely reported in the electronic media, Shubhaprada said, “When some visitors gave him sweet packets before us, he opened one box and asked us to take some. But we told him we ourselves will offer him sweets if a Telangana State was delivered.” The OU JAC leader said the meeting with Singh gave them the impression that the Congress might decide in favour of Telangana soon.
Later speaking to reporters, Digvijaya Singh said the Congress high command would soon take a final call on the T-issue. “I have already submitted my proposal to party president Sonia Gandhi. Now, we are awaiting roadmaps from Chief Minister N Reddy, his deputy C Damodara Rajanarasimha and PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana. As soon as they submit their proposals, the party core committee will take a final call on the issue,” Singh said.
Further elaborating on the same, he said, “When the troika get ready with their reports and Sonia Gandhi has time, the party’s core committee will meet. Based on the roadmaps, a presentation will be made for the committee. PM Manmohan Singh and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi will also be there. A final decision will be taken after that,” he said.
However, he also refused to give a time-frame for this process and said they were bracing to face any challenge that might arise out of their T-decision.
Back in the State, the slugfest between Congress leaders in Telangana and Seemandhra continued on Monday. Congress MLA Anam Vivekananda Reddy opposed the proposal of bifurcation. His Telangana counterparts, MP Palvai Govardhan Reddy and government whip Gandra Venkataramana Reddy, lashed out at him for his stance. The Telangana Congress leaders, in the meantime, continued their exercise for drafting the roadmap at the residence of Panchayat Raj Minister K Jana Reddy.