MPs’ silence on Telengana under scrutiny

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Vijayawada: The people of coastal Andhra, especially of Vijayawada, the political hub, are keenly observing the silence of important leaders of the area on the present developments related to the Telangana statehood issue. 
 
The role of the three MPs, Lagadapati Rajagopal, Rayapati Sambasiva Rao and Kavuri Sambasiva Rao is under intense scrutiny by the people and other leaders of the region. 
 
Intense discussions are on among several political leaders and the people on the present developments, especially of the last few days where it is increasingly looking like the UPA government may take a stand in favour of Telangana statehood soon. The developments have brought the role of the three MPs pertaining to the political developments on the Telangana front into sharp focus. 
 
When the then Union home minister P. Chidambaram made an announcement over the Telangana statehood demand in 2009, it was from Vijayawada that a series of agitations and resignations of public representatives began, opposing the division of Andhra Pradesh. At that time, it was Rajagopal who took the lead and started a hunger strike opposing the division of the state.
 
The other political leaders followed his example. Since then, whenever the Telangana statehood issue came to the forefront, it was Rajagopal who stood up against the division of the state, rebuffing every comment and effort by pro-Telangana leaders. 
 
However, Rajagopal’s silence on the issue now has left the people befuddled. This silence is deafening, so to speak, and it is this silence that is being debated in every gathering. Besides  Rajagopal’s silence, Union minister  for textiles Kavuri Sambasiva Rao’s recent statement is also under scrutiny by the people. 
 
Guntur MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao too has adopted the mantra of silence on the Telangana statehood issue, instead of being his normally articulate self. The three MPs’ role becomes all the more important as the represent Vijayawada, Eluru and Guntur, the constituencies right in the centre of the new state that would be created if Andhra Pradesh is split. According to sources, the three MPs have asked their followers to wait for some more days before they comment on the issue. 
 
Meanwhile, Samaikyandhra Parirakshana Samiti Joint Action Committee convener N. Srihari said that the Samiti would meet all the MPs and MLAs from the region and all political parties on the issue soon. Srihari added that the Samiti activists would start an agitation and were already in touch with the three MPs.