Andhra, Rayalaseema Congress leaders meet Azad

HYDERABAD: A 21-member delegation of Andhra and Rayalaseema leaders met AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad in Delhi on Monday and impressed upon him the need for keeping the state united for its all-round development.Building a strong case for the unity of the state, the delegation, led by Eluru MP Kavuri Sambasiva Rao and primary education minister S Sailajanath, tried to drive home the point that the state had made rapid progress before the agitation for state’s bifurcation was launched and made an attempt to make Azad see merit in their argument.Pointing out that development was taking a back seat because of the delay in taking a decision by the Centre, the delegation told him that any more delay would only increase enmity between the people of Telangana and the rest of the state. “We have told them to use their skills of persuasion, diplomacy and statesmanship to find the right solution. Azad had told us that the issue would be resolved soon soon but did not say how soon,’’ Sambasiva Rao told reporters.Monday’s meeting marked the end of consultations which Azad had initiated to bring about a consensus in the party. The last meeting the Seemandhra leaders had with Azad was on August 10 when they made a PowerPoint presentation with 86 slides to him on why the state should remain united. They also provided statistics to Azad then to prove Telangana’s development on all fronts. “As there was nothing to tell him more than what we had told him already, we only sought an early decision on the issue. We had told him the reason for the birth of the separate Telangana movement and what the leaders were aiming at. This time, we told the AICC general secretary that if the Centre is intent on bifurcating the state, it should do it on a scientific basis and apply it to all states wherever there are demands and movements for bifurcation,” Sambasiva Rao said.To a question the Seemandhra delegation leader said that they did not tell Azad that they would settle for bifurcation of the state if Hyderabad was allowed to remain a common capital.