New Delhi:
A paralysed Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh is the UPA's latest political challenge. And it has reached the Prime Minister's doorstep. Yesterday, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhara Rao met Dr Manmohan Singh to discuss the issue. But, the meeting did not yield much.
For three weeks, the Telangana region, including Hyderabad, has shut down, dampening the festive mood before Dusshera. And forced Telangana leaders to lobby with the Centre for a quick announcement.
"We want the Union government to come forward before things get out of hand in Telangana," said KCR.
For two days, KCR has been trying to make his presence felt in Delhi, from sitting on a dharna at Rajghat to meeting the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj.
Apart from trying to impress upon the UPA government with strikes back home, K Chandrashekhar Rao also made sure he meets old friends, clearly trying to gather support from all corridors possible.
"I will write to the Prime Minister saying that no further consultations are necessary," said Communist Party of India (CPI) leader AB Bardhan.
Not to be outdone, the Congress leaders too from Telangana called on the Prime Minister trying to ensure that if Centre makes any big announcement, KCR does not walk away with the credit.
"We will take up the matter with the honourable Congress president and the core committee, and are hoping some announcement or action by the Home Ministry by tomorrow," said Congress leader Keshava Rao.
The issue has confounded the government because while leaders from Telangana are vehement about statehood with Hyderabad as their capital, the two other regions of Andhra Pradesh are opposed to any division. Andhra Pradesh has three regions - coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana.
The protests on the ground were serious enough for Congress in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, to fly down to Hyderabad.
But on the issue of arriving at any decision, Azad stuck to the stated position.
"I have had a long discussion and consultation with the leaders of Telangana. So, state-level consultation with the elected representatives is already done, but we need more consultations at the national level," Mr Azad said.
After meeting with the Prime Minister, sources say, questions were raised as to how Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra Pradesh would react if Telangana is granted. But the TRS chief was unrelenting.
"This time, neither the strike is going to relent nor it is going to seize. The strike will continue, the intensity of the movement will continue till the government announces the formation of the Telangana state with a clear-cut timeframe and a clear-cut roadmap," said KCR after meeting the Prime Minister.
The Congress is not yet ready to spell out its next move given the sensitive nature of the issue. But sources say talks on a separate state on Telangana is back on the table.
For three weeks, the Telangana region, including Hyderabad, has shut down, dampening the festive mood before Dusshera. And forced Telangana leaders to lobby with the Centre for a quick announcement.
"We want the Union government to come forward before things get out of hand in Telangana," said KCR.
For two days, KCR has been trying to make his presence felt in Delhi, from sitting on a dharna at Rajghat to meeting the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj.
Apart from trying to impress upon the UPA government with strikes back home, K Chandrashekhar Rao also made sure he meets old friends, clearly trying to gather support from all corridors possible.
"I will write to the Prime Minister saying that no further consultations are necessary," said Communist Party of India (CPI) leader AB Bardhan.
Not to be outdone, the Congress leaders too from Telangana called on the Prime Minister trying to ensure that if Centre makes any big announcement, KCR does not walk away with the credit.
"We will take up the matter with the honourable Congress president and the core committee, and are hoping some announcement or action by the Home Ministry by tomorrow," said Congress leader Keshava Rao.
The issue has confounded the government because while leaders from Telangana are vehement about statehood with Hyderabad as their capital, the two other regions of Andhra Pradesh are opposed to any division. Andhra Pradesh has three regions - coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana.
The protests on the ground were serious enough for Congress in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, to fly down to Hyderabad.
But on the issue of arriving at any decision, Azad stuck to the stated position.
"I have had a long discussion and consultation with the leaders of Telangana. So, state-level consultation with the elected representatives is already done, but we need more consultations at the national level," Mr Azad said.
After meeting with the Prime Minister, sources say, questions were raised as to how Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra Pradesh would react if Telangana is granted. But the TRS chief was unrelenting.
"This time, neither the strike is going to relent nor it is going to seize. The strike will continue, the intensity of the movement will continue till the government announces the formation of the Telangana state with a clear-cut timeframe and a clear-cut roadmap," said KCR after meeting the Prime Minister.
The Congress is not yet ready to spell out its next move given the sensitive nature of the issue. But sources say talks on a separate state on Telangana is back on the table.
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