“TRS is a party that divides people for political gains”, said Union Minister for Rural Development and member of Group of Ministers on Telangana, Jairam Ramesh. He questioned the Telangana Joint Action Committee leaders as to how they could join hands with such a party.

The minister invited TJAC leaders to Lake View Guest House on Thursday and held discussions with them for over an hour. He criticized TRS party in several ways and invited TJAC to join Congress party.

Jairam clarified to TJAC leaders that he was against the formation of Telangana personally. “But, I had to obey the orders of our party high command. Andhra Pradesh stood by Congress party during emergency period too. The party lost the support of Seemandhra since we gave Telangana. Seemandhra people won’t vote for Congress for another 15 to 20 years. People agitated before me in Tirupati and Kakinada”, the minister informed the TJAC leaders.

TJAC leaders told the minister, “The people of Telangana fought for separate state for 60 years. Some thousands of students laid down their lives for the separate state. The people of Seemandhra and Telangana never lived peacefully. Telangana people were considered as second grade people in their region itself. They were shown partiality in the aspects of water, duties and recruitment. So many movements took place against such attitude only. We are thinking that you are not aware of all those.”

Interrupting their speech, Jairam asked, “What will you get with the formation of Telangana?”

TJAC leaders told the minister, “Only two communities ruled the United Andhra Pradesh so far. The communities, which were sidelined so far, will get better opportunities from now."

The minister told them that such opportunities will not be possible for Telangana people if TRS got power.

“Only national parties like Congress and BJP will have a broad understanding of the problems of people. If TRS gets power in Telangana, the region will be destroyed in all ways. TRS will face fate similar to that of Aam Aadmi Party. As our party gave Telangana, the TJAC leaders should join hands with us”, said the minister.

“I don’t know whether TRS can join hands with us," said the minister.

TJAC leaders told the minister that they would inform their final decision on joining Congress soon.

“As the fight for the separate state has ended, all of us should try to develop both states in all ways. We should not allow the communal forces to enter our land and we should be alert on that aspect," said the minister.

The TJAC leaders immediately assured the minister that they will elect him next time from Telangana.

The TJAC leaders like Kodandaram, Mallepalli Laxmaiah, Devi Prasad and others took part in the meet.

-Sakshipost