Telangana Cong MPs thank PM over clause deletion

Telangana Congress MPs and other leaders on Wednesday thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for recommending the deletion of a controversial clause related to police recruitment, but decided to continue their boycott of official work for now.

"We thank the Prime Minister for the deletion of Clause 14 (F) of 1975 Presidential Order. We have decided to cancel the one-day fast proposed to be held by us on Thursday," Congress MP G Sukhender Reddy said.

The Steering Committee of the Telangana Congress leaders held a meeting on Wednesday. At the meeting, Reddy said, it was decided to maintain status quo for now with regard to the stance of Telangana Congress MPs, ministers and MLAs who have been staying away from official duties.

The committee would meet on August 14 to decide the future course of action, Reddy said. He demanded that the police sub-inspectors exam, scheduled to be held on August 13, be postponed to enable the Telangana students to prepare well.

The Telangana student groups have sought postponement of the exam until the deletion of the clause, which makes Hyderabad a free zone for employment. Pro-statehood groups have demanded that the Andhra Pradesh capital be part of other Telangana districts and not remain a free zone.

Acting on a resolution passed by the Andhra Pradesh assembly and the request made by the chief minister, the Centre on Wednesday decided to recommend to the President for repeal of Clause 14 (F).