More than 60 Congress Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assembly and Members of Legislative Council from Telangana region on Wednesday met Home Minister P Chidambaram and demanded urgent steps for the creation of a separate state.
The law makers, however, expressed "unhappiness" over getting "very little" time to meet the home minister and sat for more than two hours at a conference hall of the home ministry, apparently as a mark of protest.
"We have met the home minister and placed our demand. Unfortunately, he was in a hurry to go for another meeting. So, our people are unhappy as the home minister gave us very little time," said Rajya Sabha member Hanumantha Rao.
Senior Congress leader Kesava Rao said that except his party, all other political parties in Andhra Pradesh have clarified their position on the issue and it was high time the Congress made up its mind.
"We know the home minister is not in a position to take a decision. But we thought that it is appropriate to apprise him about the people's feelings as he has been involved in the process," he said.
Rao said since Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had heard the delegation for 43 minutes and the home minister gave them only 12-13 minutes, the members were "disappointed" and "hurt".
He said the people of Telangana region were upset that there was no mention either in Parliament or in the state assembly about the alleged death of 600 people during the protests for a separate state.
Rao also dismissed the suggestion for constituting a Gorkhaland Autonomous Council-type authority for Telangana region.
Some leaders also indicated that they may go for a mass agitation, including en-masse resignation, if no decision is taken in the next few days.
The delegation included 13 MPs, ten state ministers, 28 MLAs and 13 MLCs belonging to Telangana region.
