Hyderabad:
In an act of defiance, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy indirectly warned his own party's leaders that Congress would have to face the consequences of bifurcating the state.
"There are many instances both in the states and at the Centre, when governments and parties were sent home by people for not taking correct decisions," he said while addressing 'Telugu language day' celebrations in Hyderabad on Thursday evening.
"In a democracy, government and party can't take decisions. Only people take decision. It will be wrong to think that the government or party can take decisions," he said.
The chief minister's remarks came amid the continuing public protests in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions over the Congress Working Committee's decision to carve out a separate Telangana state.
This is the second time that Mr Reddy has questioned the July 30 decision. He had earlier asked the party not to take any further step without addressing key issues arising out of bifurcation, including the status of Hyderabad.
Mr Reddy's remarks came a day after Congress leaders from Telangana urged the leaders to either rein in the chief minister or impose President's rule. They even accused him of financing the agitation in Rayalaseema and Andhra and making police look the other way to scuttle the process of bifurcation.