News Post India

Separate Telangana Might Help Maoists: CM

Thursday 14th of February 2008
Intelligence agencies have warned that separate statehood for the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh could strengthen Maoists, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy told the state assembly Thursday.

He said that intelligence agencies of the state and the central government had warned that Maoists want a separate Telangana as this would strengthen them.

The Maoists had been considerably weakened in Andhra Pradesh during the last couple of years, he said, adding: 'In this situation, there is a view that a separate Telangana state might help them.'

According to Reddy, the intelligence agencies had cautioned that a separate Telangana could prove to be another Chhattisgarh, where the rebels have a strong presence.

YSR, as the chief minister is popularly known, spoke after opposition Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) members were suspended from the house for stalling proceedings over the demand for Telangana.

Responding to opposition criticism over the Congress' ambiguous stand on the issue, the chief minister said it was difficult to say 'yes or no' to the demand. 'It is not a simple problem. It is a very complicated issue and hence it is difficult to say yes or no to a separate Telangana,' he said.

In his nearly hour-long speech, which was marred by frequent interruptions from the main opposition Telugu Desam Party, YSR denied that he was a hurdle in the formation of a separate Telangana.

'The Congress leadership is looking into the issue. We have left the issue to the party leadership. It is looking into all aspects including reports by intelligence agencies, the view by some Telangana leaders that development of the region is possible only in a separate state and similar demands of statehood from other regions,' said YSR, who hails from Rayalseema region.

'Till the leadership takes a decision, I request TRS and all other parties to cooperate with the government in ensuring comprehensive development of the entire state,' he said, while turning down the TRS demand that the house pass a resolution urging the central government to grant separate statehood to Telangana.

The chief minister recalled that the Congress had entered into an electoral understanding with TRS in 2004 on the basis of their agreement over the need to constitute a second States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) to look into the issue.

He pointed out that some people were demanding Rayalseema state, others were seeking Greater Rayalseema by merging the region with two coastal districts while leaders of north Andhra want separate statehood for their region.