Stop targeting Cong MLAs, Centre willing for T: Ponnam

Condemning the proposed protest by the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee that its activists will burn effigies depicting Congress MLAs and MLCs in front of their residences on February 28, Karimnagar MP Ponnam Prabhakar on Saturday said that such actions would be unjustified.

Speaking to media persons at the Assembly Media Point, Mr Prabhakar stated that the Centre has already said that it would take a serious look at the Telangana statehood demand after the presentation of the General Budget in Parliament.

“Any attempt to discredit the Congress Legislators when the Centre has already stated that it would take a serious look at the statehood demand would be unethical,” the MP said.

He said that TPJAC convenor Kodandaram calling for the agitation at a time when the Centre has expressed its willingness to move forward on the issue is totally unjustified. Mr Prabhakar requested the TPJAC to call off its proposed agitations and allow dialogue to take precedence.

The Karimnagar MP also called on all Congress leaders who have Telangana interests uppermost in their minds to join the agitation.

Mr Prabhakar said that Minister Mukesh Goud and MLA Vishnuvardhan Reddy have the best interests of Telangana at heart but were not active in the struggle. He called on the Minister and the young MLA to join their party colleagues in the struggle for Telangana.

The MP also appealed to the leaders from Seemandhra regions not to become stumbling blocks in the Telangana formation issue. He added that even if the state was to be bifurcated, the Telugu speaking people will retain mutual respect, love and high regards for each other.

“Brothers setting up individual homes does not mean that they family ties are snapped,” Mr Prabhakar quipped.