TRS, other Telangana groups reject Srikrishna Committee report

HYDERABAD/NEW DELHI: TRS and other political leaders from Telangana cutting across the spectrum today rejected the Justice Srikrishna Committee report on the contentious statehood issue saying it "failed to come up with a clear solution".

Students agitating for the separate state hit the streets and set a bus on fire in Osmania University campus, the hotbed of Telangana movement, and clashed with security personnel who hit back by exploding teargas shells.

The students' joint action committee has called a Telangana bandh tomorrow in protest against the report.

Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, spearheading the Telangana statehood agitation, said "we are rejecting the options suggested by the Srikrishna Committee.

"We want nothing but a Telangana state that existed prior to November 1, 1956. The creation of an exclusive development board for the region, as suggested by the Committee and conversion of Hyderabad into a Union Territory are totally unacceptable for us," he said.

"We cannot lose our right on Hyderabad," the TRS chief said.

Telugu Desam Party's Telangana Forum convenor Nagam Janardhana Reddy demanded the Centre table a Bill in the Budget session of Parliament for creation of Telangana state irrespective of the recommendations of the Srikrishna Committee.

"The six recommendations made by the Committee have compounded the chaos. They are an insult to the sentiments of Telangana people. The government of India has no other option but to respect the people's sentiment and create Telangana state," Janardhana Reddy said.

Congress legislators from Telangana too echoed similar feelings saying the Centre should carve out a separate state in accordance with its statement made on December 9, 2009.

"We want Telangana state and nothing else. We hope the Centre will respect the wishes of people of the region and grant statehood", Congress MLAs from Telangana R Damodar Reddy, Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy, Rajaiah, MLC Yadav Reddy said.

BJP also pressed for early creation of Telagana saying delay in formation of the state would harm the interests of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana region.

The party also accused the Congress-led UPA government of acting in an "irresponsible and childish" manner on the Telangana issue.

Senior TDP MLA from Bhanswada in Nizamabad district, Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy today quit the party and joined TRS.

Congress MLA Uttam Kumar Reddy said bifurcation of the state into Andhra and Telangana was the only acceptable option.

However, Andhra Pradesh CPI(M) leader B V Raghavulu said status quo should be maintained on Telangana issue and the Centre should come out with a solution.