Decision on Telangana very soon: CM

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Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday appealed to pro-Telangana activists not to take up any agitation at this stage as the Central government was in the process of finding a solution to the five-decade-old issue.

“The Centre is going to announce a decision on the issue very soon; there is no need to take up agitation at this stage and disturb the peace,” he said, in the backdrop of Telangana activists gearing up to intensify their protests from September 30, eve of the international biodiversity conference beginning in Hyderabad on October 1.

While interacting with students on Saturday at Gadwal in Mahbubnagar district, on the second day of the three-day Indiramma Baata programme, the Chief Minister added that just because a decision on Telangana was pending, he could not be stopped from taking up development activities in the region.

Decision on mantri after his reply: Kiran

While interacting with students at Gadwal in Mahbubnagar district, on the second day of the three-day Indiramma Baata programme, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy said that everyone in the state was aware that the demand for a separate Telangana had been there for the last five decades as also the aspirations of the people of the region.

The Chief Minister inaugurated the Rajiv Gandhi Bheema Lift Irrigation Scheme taken up under the Jalayagnam programme.

He said he was honoured to inaugurate three major lift irrigation schemes based on Krishna river waters in the district. Mr Reddy assured farmers that water would be given to an additional 80,000 acres this season.

Later, at a media conference, Mr Reddy said he had sought a reply from roads and buildings minister Dharmana Prasada Rao on the CBI's request seeking permission to prosecute him.

“I will take an appropriate decision on the resignation letter submitted by Dharmana after receiving a reply from him,” he said.

Cops foil T-rally, 200 arrested

As many as 200 activists of Telangana Political JAC and Telangana Advocates Forum were arrested while taking out a rally in the Old City on Saturday. Police also arrested the CPI leader and former MP Aziz Pasha who was leading the Pada Yatra, sparking off a sharp reaction from TJAC chairman M. Kodandaram, who described the arrest as “police highhandedness”.

Prof Kodandaram said the activists were taking out a peaceful rally as a precursor to the Telangana march, scheduled for Septem-ber 30. “They were arrested even after they took the permission,” he said and added that this was done at the behest of some Seemandhra leaders.