Ghulam Nabi Azad submits Telangana report to Sonia Gandhi

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has submitted a much-awaited internal report on the Telangana crisis to his party president Sonia Gandhi. A general strike in support of a separate Telangana state entered its 18th day today and the Congress central leadership has been meeting leaders from the region to find a solution to the crisis.

In Andhra Pradesh, the demand for a separate Telangana state cuts across political party lines. But those from other regions oppose a cutting up of the state equally vehemently Over the last two months, Mr Azad, who has charge of Andhra Pradesh affairs in the Congress, has met several leaders from both sides of the longstanding debate in the state, including Chief Minister Kiran Reddy, in the preparation of his report. Mr Azad had promised that he would consider the views of people both from the Telangana region and the Andhra-Rayalaseema regions in drafting his report.

Congressmen from the Telangana region have been camping in Delhi for the last few days hoping to get Mr Azad to submit a “favourable” report.  Last evening, senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee too met some Telangana Congress MPs, who have refused to return to Hyderabad till there is a definite word from the UPA leadership on the formation of Telangana. Mr Mukherjee is said to have assured the delegation that he would take up the issue with the Prime Minister and the Congress president on a priority basis

With all eyes on the Azad report, Telangana Rashtriya Samiti  leader K Chandrashekhar Rao too is flying to Delhi this evening. His son KT Rama Rao said, “the Congress must deliver on its promise made in December 2009 on a separate Telangana state In Hyderabad, the Telangana Joint Action Committee has called a bandh today.  Protesters have now shifted their focus on putting pressure on elected representatives and ministers in the Congress government to resign. For this, the protesters are gheraoing their homes and not allowing them to move around freely in the Telangana region.

Labour Minister Danam Nagender faced the ire of the protesters yesterday as the members of the Telangana Joint Action Committee sat outside his residence in Hyderabad “We demand that Danam Nagender must immediately resign from his post,” said a protester.

“They have no right to ask for my resignation or that of any other Congress leader. Minister Komti Reddy resigned but people still threw chappals on him. What is their fate if this is how resigned MLAs and ministers are treated,” said Mr Nagender These activists also surrounded the homes of many other Congress elected representatives in several Telangana districts “If our Congress leaders were good, then by now a Bill on Telangana would have been presented in Parliament and Telangana state would have been formed,” said another protester. This is being seen as an attempt by TRS-led pro-Telangana groups to pressurise the elected representatives asking them to resign and join the strike or face the ire of the people.

It is a demand by the people of Telangana, not KCR alone. It is a popular demand that all Telangana public representatives must resign, so that the Centre is moved and the issue is solved,” TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao said on Thursday.

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2. Azad report is found inconclusive
3. Azad urges T supporters to end strike
4. Telangana issue to be settled soon – Azad
5. Azad says time needed for more consultation on T
6. Azad submits, Sonia to decide on T
7. Azad urged not to take hasty decision on Telangana
8. Azad meets Telangana politicians
9. Azad continues talks on Telangana
10. Azad seeks proof of ‘injustice’ to T