BJP won't backtrack on Telangana

Leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, on Saturday said the BJP will not backtrack on its stand on Telangana even if it enters into an electoral alliance with the Telugu Desam Party.
The UPA government should introduce the Telangana bill in the winter session of Parliament, she demanded, adding that the BJP would launch an agitation if the Centre backtracked on the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
“The Congress will have to face severe consequences if it fails to introduce the Telangana bill in the Lok Sabha in the next two months. Though the Congress Working Committee had resolved the issue two months ago, it has not moved even an inch further since then,” Swaraj said.
The senior BJP leader made the statements in her address at a massive public meeting in Mahbubnagar. She said though she was happy that the Congress had resolved in favour of Telangana, she doubted the sincerity of the ruling party as it had backtracked on the issue earlier. “If the Congress fails to implement the CWC decision, it will face the wrath of people,” she added.
Referring to speculations in political circles about a possible alliance between the BJP and the Telugu Desam Party ahead of the general elections, Swaraj said “there is no talk of tie-up at this juncture.” She assured that if the alliance become inevitable, the BJP will not change its stand on Telangana. “We will vote for the Telangana bill in Parliament in full strength,” she maintained.
Swaraj also criticized chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and other Seemandhra leaders for their united AP stance. She said the bifurcation may throw up problems like electricity and water sharing but it was not right on the part of the CM to oppose the division based on these apprehensions. The problems could be solved amicably through discussions and negotiations.
Without naming TRS leaders, Swaraj said it was not the right time to use objectionable language at public meetings against Seemandhra people. “The BJP is for the geographical division of Andhra Pradesh, not physical division of people,” she clarified. She promised that if the BJP was elected to power, it will give national status to Palamoor lift irrigation scheme in Mahbubnagar district.