Damodar differs with Saraiah on YSR threatening call

Former minister R Damodar Reddy on Thursday differed with Backward Classes Welfare Minister Basavaraj Saraiah's allegation that he had received a threatening call from former chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy when he was planning to conduct a meeting for Telangana cause in Warangal district.

Talking to media persons at the Congress Legislature Party Office, Damodar Reddy said that Saraiah might have leveled such an allegation against YSR at his 'personal level.' When he organized a massive convention in 1998, Damodar Reddy said that YSR attended the programme as PCC chief and never spoke against the Telangana demand. Even YSR encouraged us to organize conventions for the separate statehood, he said.

Later, YSR wrote a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi appealing her to take a decision on Telangana statehood demand in 2001, he pointed out. As part of understanding, he said that YSR tied up with Telangana Rashtra Samithi promising to give Telangana State in 2004 elections. He asked as to why Basavaraj Saraiah, who failed to raise his voice then, was now leveling allegations against YSR.

Damodar Reddy said that he has appealed to Vayalar Ravi to ask the Congress High Command to issue a clear statement on Telangana statehood instead of dragging the issue. Due to this delay, he said that the people in the region have turned against the Congress leaders. If the high command makes a clear statement favouring Telangana, he said that the Telangana leaders would be able to visit their constituencies and make efforts for strengthening the party.