LSP refutes TRS charges against party chief

The Lok Satta Party on Wednesday rushed to defend itself against the charges made against its president Jayaprakash Narayan by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi that he had instigated Seemandhra people to oppose the Telangana movement.

Lok Satta Party state working president DVVS Varma and Secretary P Bhaskara Rao told media persons that the LSP has not, and will never, foment feelings of animosity and hatred among people based on their region or religion, caste or language. They said that, on the contrary, it always stands for peace and harmony among people of this great nation.

The LSP leaders said that there has been no change in the party’s stand on the Telangana issue. “Formation of Telangana will be neither a panacea nor a disaster,” the party believes. That is why it has been urging the youth of both Telangana and Seemandhra not to succumb to envy, hatred, or fear, and not to resort to violence in their language or behavior.

The Lok Satta believes that problems however intractable they appear to be, could be resolved across the table provided the parties concerned adopt a give and take attitude within the framework of the Constitution. There is no alternative to dialogue in a democratic polity, they added in a statement today.

The Lok Satta leaders appealed to all political parties and civic society organizations to adhere to civility, decency, and democratic norms, and keep in mind larger public interest and nation’s future in public debate and political conduct. “All of us should eschew mutual abuse, calumny, and threats.

“Reasoned public debate, tolerance, and respect for various shades of public opinion are the essence of democracy. Leadership lies in making people think rationally and objectively, based on facts and logic and not on emotion and prejudice.”