TRS remains firm on boycotting conclave

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi on Wednesday rejected the fresh appeal by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to send its representatives to the crucial all-party conclave to discuss the Justice BN Srikrishna Commission Report before it is disclosed to the public on Thursday.

According to a message sent by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K Chandrasekhar Rao to media persons, the TRS had decided to stay away from the meeting since the Centre has done nothing to dispel its objections that two representatives from each party would lead to divergent views, thereby giving scope for the Centre to put off taking a decision on the Telangana statehood demand.

The TRS chief pointed out to a similar meeting held on January 5, 2010 where all the parties were invited to discuss the situation arising out opposition by Seemandhra leaders to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

“This is our final decision and we will boycott the all-party meeting convened in New Delhi on January 6,” the TRS president reiterated in his message.

The Centre had then used the divergent opinion expressed at that meeting to set up the Srikrishna Commission, with the mandate to go into the situation in the state and submit a Report, according to a senior TRS leader.

The pro-Telangana party has accused the Centre of calling Thursday’s meeting to deliberately encourage parties with divergent views so that it can wriggle out of the situation, KCR’s message said.

The TRS president, in his message further said that the party had received Mr Chidambaram’s second letter of invitation.

The TRS has already said that whatever the recommendations of the Srikrishna Commission Report, the Centre must introduce a separate Telangana Bill in Parliament.