Struggle not over yet: TRS party chief

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president, K Chandrasekhara Rao, has said the struggle for protection of the interests of Telangana was not yet over despite the Centre according statehood to the region.

He said the sprawling Andhra Pradesh (AP)  Bhavan in New Delhi belongs to Telangana and he would not keep quiet if any share was given to the residual AP in the prime property.

Rao, who ruled out any electoral alliance with the Congress, is also opposed to functioning of the secretariats of both Telangana and residual AP from the existing premises after the bifurcation.

On Thursday, Governor ESL Narasimhan had endorsed the proposal to retain secretariats of both the states in the present premises  

“How can  there be 70 per cent Andhra employees in the secretariat that belongs to Telangana?”, Rao asked addressing a press conference here on Friday .

The TRS president earlier drew flak from former chief minister and Jai Samaikyandhra party president, N Kiran Kumar Reddy and former deputy chief minister and Telangana Congress campaign committee chairman, C Damodara Rajanarasimha,  for asserting that he would not allow construction of  the Polavaram irrigation project if the design is not changed and that Seemandhra employees working in Telangana  would not be allowed any options.  

Nevertheless, Rao said he would stand by his words.  For instance, he said, “Out of the 200 employees working in the AP Bhavan, only three belong to Telangana. Why should Telangana bear the burden of the Andhra employees?”.

On the other hand, Telugu Desam Party president, N Chandrababu Naidu, wrote a letter to the Governor requesting him to ensure that the division was done strictly in accordance with the provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.