Amar, Javadekar join pro-Telangana stir; slam Centre

BJP leader Prakash Javadekar and expelled Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh today shared the stage for the cause of Telangana statehood and slammed the UPA government for not heeding to the demand of the people.

The two addressed a rally by pro-Telangana advocates from Andhra Pradesh here. Mr. Singh was seen joining Mr. Javadekar when the latter raised the “Jai-Jai Telangana” slogan from the dais.

Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley could not turn up.

Mr. Singh, who demanded carving out Poorvanchal, Harit Pradesh and Bundelkhand from Uttar Pradesh, said smaller states were necessary for a faster pace of development.

“When I was the General Secretary of SP, I could not openly support the demand for Telangana in Parliament as the party was against smaller states. Now, when I demand for Poorvanchal, Harit Pradesh or Bundelkhand, how can I remain silent for Telangana and Vidarbha,” he told the gathering.

Terming the Terms of Reference of the Justice Srikrishna Committee on Telangana as a “joke”, Mr. Singh said the document only reflected the Centre’s policy of “management by postponement.”

“They only see the protests against Telangana and not the support,” he said.