December deadline for Congress to get Telangana bill passed, says BJP

Mahbubnagar: With the Centre appearing to dragging its feet on taking the process of creating Telangana forward, senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj today set December as the deadline for Congress to get the Bill to carve out the separate state passed in Parliament or face the consequences.“Development could be immediately kick-started in Telangana if the Bill for creation of the new state is passed in winter session... Congress would be “exposed” if it is not done,” Swaraj said addressing a “Telangana Praja Garjana” (people's roar) rally organised by BJP here tonight.Sushma said her party would launch a “second round of struggle” if the Bill is not passed.The issue did not move ahead though 60 days have elapsed since the Congress Central Working Committee decision, she said.The Leader of Opposition also debunked talk that BJP made a U-turn on the Telangana issue as it was seeking to reestablish ties with the Telugu Desam Party.“We will wait till December. If Telangana Bill is passed in Parliament in the winter session, I will come here again to celebrate. Otherwise, I will come to lead the second round of struggle for Telangana,” she said.Swaraj said, “On one side, there is happiness that the Congress decided to carve out Telangana but on the other there is apprehension that it may go back on its decision. The issue did not move ahead though 60 days have elapsed since the Congress Central Working Committee decision”.Swaraj said Congress cannot be trusted on the issue as it had earlier promised Telangana but subsequently went back on its word. “Hence we are apprehensive that it may deceive people once again,” she remarked.The BJP would unconditionally support the Telangana Bill if it was placed in Parliament in accordance with the resolution adopted by the CWC, she said.Swaraj said BJP rejected the RPA (Amendment) Ordinance that sought to protect convicted politicians from holding on to their seats but supported the Food Security Bill in people's interest. “If Telangana Bill is not passed, we will tell Congress enough is enough..We cannot trust you anymore,” she said, adding BJP will launch the second round of struggle insuch scenario.Referring to reports that BJP changed its stance on Telangana in view of its likely alliance with TDP, the Leader of Opposition shot back, “alliance or no alliance, there will be no change in BJP's stand on Telangana”.She said, “there is no discussion of alliance with the TDP yet. Chandrababu Naidu, along with his party leaders, met Rajnath Singh in New Delhi only to discuss the ongoing turmoil in Seemaandhra region. Chandrababu also met the President of India, Prakash Karat, Sharad Yadav and other leaders”.Stating that the alliance might be required to form a stable government at the Centre, she said “whatever be our alliances, we remain committed to Telangana”.Sushma said the BJP did not support the Telangana cause due to any political considerations but for the backwardness and lack of development in the region.“Our task does not stop with the formation of Telangana state, it only starts as it has to be developed on par with other states,” the BJP leader said.Sushma ended her address by making the crowd chant “Jai Telangana” and ‘Jai Seemaandhra' slogans.Recalling that the BJP created three new states without shedding a drop of blood, Sushma pointed out that it was not difficult to resolve the contentious issues within a certain timeframe.“If the government focuses its attention on the issues, they could be amicably resolved,” she added.Against the backdrop of ongoing protests in Seemandhra region, comprising coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, for united Andhra Pradesh, Sushma said,” People of the two regions could continue to live with the same warmth and affection even after the bifurcation”.She said people of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are living in harmony even after the division. “They continue to share each other's sorrows and joys,” she said.State unit BJP president G Kishan Reddy, MLAs Nagam Janardhan Reddy, V Srinivas Reddy and other leaders attended the rally.