We want Telangana at the earliest: BJP

BJP today accused the Congress-led UPA government of acting in an "irresponsible and childish" manner on the Telangana issue and maintained that delay in formation of the state would harm the interest of both Andhra Pradesh and the Telangana region.

"The Congress-led government is acting in an irresponsible and childish manner. The Srikrishna Commission report shows that they deliberately want to delay the issue. We want Telangana at the earliest. Any delay in the matter will not be in the interest of the people of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters.

Later, a delegation of students from Telangana met Hussain and Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha Chief Anurag Thakur. The students raised slogans against Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

They also told Hussain that BJP had earlier dilly-dallied on the Telangana issue and "ditched" the people of the region by tying up with parties which are against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Hussain assured them that BJP was firm on its demand for a separate state of Telangana and would not enter into any alliance with any party not favouring carving out of the state in Andhra Pradesh.

He took potshots at the Congress, saying the BJP had the expertise on formation of smaller states as it had formed three states -- Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

"The Congress can seek advice from us on how to form new states," Hussain said.