Hyderabad:
In an attempt to cash in on "Samaikhya Andhra (united Andhra)" sentiment in Seemandhra, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday launched the Telugu self-respect yatra.
At a time when Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra) is witnessing continuing protests over Congress Working Committee's decision to carve out separate Telangana state, Mr Naidu launched the bus yatra from Pondugula in Guntur district, blaming the Congress for "creating a wedge between Telugu-speaking people".
Mr Naidu, who plans to cover all 13 districts of Seemandhra, justified the ongoing protests saying injustice was done to people of Seemandhra.
He suggested that people of both Seemandhra and Telangana be made to sit together and solve the problems amicably.
While admitting that TDP demanded the central government to solve Telangana issue, the former chief minister said while dividing the state, all problems arising out of this should be solved.
He contended that the manner in which Congress dealt with the issue created apprehensions and created a sense of insecurity among people of Seemandhra.
Mr Naidu, who was chief minister from 1995 to 2004, claimed that during TDP rule, Telugus lived like 'Ram Lakshman'.