With agitation for separate Telangana state intensifying in Andhra Pradesh, Congress on Monday appealed to TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao, who has been on fast-unto-death for the last eight days, to adopt a reasonable approach on the issue. The party also said it was not against separate statehood provided a consensus emerges.
"Nobody should behave in a manner, which impedes the process of consensus... we don't think this is an appropriate method of resolving any issue or satiating any demand. We appeal to the TRS chief to adopt a far more reasonable approach," party spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters.
He was responding to a volley of questions regarding the ongoing agitation. The party's response came a day when the BJP sought to corner Government in both the Houses of Parliament over the issue demanding a bill in the current session itself for carving a separate state out of Andhra Pradesh.
On party's earlier promise to help in formation of Telangana and the constitution of a committee headed by Pranab Mukherjee to look into the issue, Tewari said, "Congress party and our government in Andhra Pradesh have reiterated at different times that we are not against a separate state but whatever situation emerges should happen by consensus."
The Congress leader said things should be seen not in a sub-regional context but in larger national context when the issues have larger ramifications. PTI
