Kiran Reddy's remark on Telangana draws flak

New Delhi/Hyderabad, Oct 21 (IAN) Telangana leaders cutting across party lines condemned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy's remark that he would stop "bifurcation cyclone", saying Telangana movement is a tsunami and anyone who tries to stop it would be washed away.

The chief minister came under fire both from ruling Congress leaders in Telangana as well as leaders from other parties.

The chief minister, who openly voiced on more than one occasion his opposition to the Centre's decision to carve out separate Telangana state, had Sunday stated that his government would definitely try to stop "bifurcation cyclone".

During a visit to cyclone-affected Srikakulam district, the chief minister remarked that though his government could not check the Phailin cyclone, it was in a position to stop "bifurcation cyclone" with the support of people of Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra).

Reacting strongly to Kiran Reddy's remark, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) general secretary K. Keshava Rao said Telangana movement was not a cyclone but a tsunami and whoever tries to come in its way would get washed away.

The TRS leader demanded that all ministers from Telangana should quit the cabinet as it was headed by a person who was openly defying Congress leadership's decision.

Keshava Rao alleged that YSR Congress party president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy was trying to create a rift among people by holding a public meeting in Hyderabad to oppose Telangana state. He claimed that the chief minister was extending all help for the meeting.

Another TRS leader and MP G. Vivek asked the chief minister to quit and join the "samaikhyandhra" (united Andhra) agitation.

Congress MP V. Hanumantha Rao wanted to know from the chief minister why he kept quiet when the leadership asked him to submit a roadmap for state's bifurcation. He said the chief minister was more afraid of Telangana cyclone than Phailin.

While Congress general secretary incharge of part affairs in the state Digvijaya Singh merely smiled when asked to react on the chief minister's remark, party spokesman Sandeep Dikshit said no state chief minister can stop formation of a new state as the power to create new state rests with parliament.