TRS chief meets president, prepares to step up Telangana movement

New Delhi/Hyderabad, Nov 9 : Ahead of his planned fast-unto-death to achieve separate statehood for Telangana region, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao Monday met President Pratibha Patil in the national capital.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, submitted a memorandum to the president briefing her about the situation in Telangana and seeking immediate steps for granting separate statehood to the backward region.

"I brought to her notice the problems faced by the people of Telangana, the violation of human rights in the region by certain elements who are snatching assets and jobs of local people, which is driving them to suicide," KCR told reporters after a 20-minute meeting with the president.

This is the first in a series of meeting TRS chief planned to have with national leaders before stepping up the movement for Telangana state.

The MP from Mahbubnagar will also meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani.

KCR, who met Chief Minister K. Rosaiah in Hyderabad last week, reiterated that he would go on fast-unto-death if no steps were taken for formation of separate Telangana by the month-end.

"The state and central governments will be responsible for the consequences. This is going to be a do-or-die battle for Telangana," declared KCR, whose party has decided not to contest the upcoming Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections in order to focus on the Telangana movement.

Warning that the movement could take a violent turn, KCR has already given the slogan of 'Telangana wale jago, Andhra wale bhago' (Arise people of Telengana, run away people of Andhra).

The former union minister Sunday said TRS would drive out settlers from other regions of Andhra Pradesh who were engaged in "illegal" activities in Telangana. "We will not harass settlers who have come here to eke out a living but will fight against some influential settlers who have snatched all belongings of people of Telangana including lands," he said.

KCR's threat has evoked sharp reaction from ruling Congress party and other parties. Minister for Agriculture Raghuveera Reddy has alleged that TRS chief was trying to whip up regional feelings for his political ends.

KCR had floated TRS in 2001 to revive the three-decade old movement for separate statehood to Telangana region, which comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad.

TRS had fought the 2004 elections in alliance with the Congress party and had joined the coalition governments in both the state and at the centre with 26 state legislators and five MPs. It later pulled out alleging that Congress had gone back on its promise to deliver a separate state.

The sub-regional party contested the recent assembly and Lok Sabha elections in alliance with Telugu Desam Party (TDP) but could win only 10 seats in the 294-member assembly and two Lok Sabha seats. Its other MP and former actress Vijayshanti has distanced herself from the party following differences with KCR.