Declaring that the "battle" for separate Telangana has begun, TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday asked the Centre to take steps for formation of the separate state immediately.
Claiming there is a "constitutional crisis" in the state in the wake of the resignations of almost all ministers and MLAs from Telangana, Rao asked the Centre to initiate the process for the formation of Telangana.
"In view of the strong demand for Telangana, the central government should grant the separate state immediately", he told reporters after the first meeting of the Joint Action Committee comprising leaders cutting across party lines from Telangana here tonight.
The JAC discussed ways to intensify the agitation for Telangana state at its first meeting on Friday.
At the closed-door meeting, TRS is understood to have mooted a proposal to fix a deadline for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh but there was no statement on record from the leaders to this effect.
"I once again appeal to the government of India today. The Joint Action Committee consisting of all the employees, advocates, political parties and people s organizations of Telangana have come to the conclusion. We will chalk out our programme. This battle has begun," Rao said.
He claimed there was already a constitutional crisis in the state. "Almost all Telangana ministers have resigned, MLAs have resigned and Chief Minister K Rosaiah has no moral right to continue as Chief Minister".
Rao said while the movement for united Andhra Pradesh was "orchestrated" the agitation for Telangana "has come from the people".
Telugu Desam Party, which had attended the inaugural meeting of the JAC, stayed away from today s meet in the wake of an attack on a senior party leader in Osmania University on Thursday.
Chandrasekhar Rao dismissed the allegation by TDP that TRS was behind the attack on senior TDP leader N Janardhan Reddy at Osmania University.
"Naidu made the allegation only to stop the TDP leaders from joining the Telangana agitation", Rao said.
Senior Congress MLA R Damodar Reddy said "we appeal to the people to hold peaceful protests. "We will speak to all political parties and form a committee. As per the recommendations of that committee, we will go ahead with the agitation," he told reporters. PTI
