Congess minister quits over Telangana

Hyderabad : Andhra Pradesh Endowments Minister Jupally Krishna Rao on Thursday resigned from his political post over Telangana.

Rao sent his resignation letter to Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi saying his move is a ?sacrifice? for the sake of the growing violence over Telangana. He also sent a copy of his letter to AP chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy.

“I had announced earlier that I am ready for any sacrifice for the sake of Telangana. Accordingly, I am sending my resignation letter to Sonia Gandhi ji, explaining the prevailing situation in Telangana and the strong demand being made by the people for a separate state,? Rao told reporters.

?I am giving a copy to the chief minister as well,” he said.

Rao will be continuing as Endowments Minister till his resignation is accepted. However, the Congress minister said he will take ?more concrete? steps if no action is taken over the demand for separate statehood for Telangana during the Budget Session of Parliament.
Last year, the Srikrishna Committee that studied the feasibility of a separate Telangana state apparently favoured a united Andhra Pradesh but put the ball in the court of the Centre by suggesting six options, including bifurcation of the state with Union Territory status to Hyderabad.

Though seemingly leading towards a united Andhra Pradesh, the committee listed about six options including option A as United Andhra and Option B as bifurcation into Telangana and Seemaandhra with Hyderabad as Union Territory.

It also suggested maintenance of the status quo (read United Andhra) but give constitutional guarantee that Chief Minister or Deputy CM of the state would be from Telangana region.

The committee opined that for internal security and economic development maintaining status quo is a good option.