New Delhi: BJP leader Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday
asked the central government to fulfill the demand for a
separate Telangana state saying "it is not a separatist
demand".
"If the UPA government fails to fulfil the demand for a
separate Telangana state and if a NDA government comes to
power at the Centre after next parliament elections, that
government will fulfill the dream of the people of the
region," said the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha while
addressing a convention of party workers from Telangana here.
Swaraj said several states were formed in independence
India and the demand for a separate state by the people of
Telangana is to further strengthen the integrity of the
nation.
The Vajpayee government had fulfilled the dream of the
people of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarkhand by carving
out separate states, she said.
"It is not a separatist demand," the Leader of the
Opposition said.
She asked why Congress-led government was "deaf and
sleeping" on the issue after promising in the 2004 election
manifesto that more than 50-year-old demand for a separate
Telangana state would be met.
"Why did you (Congress) promise a separate Telangana
state in your election manifesto in 2004 if you were doubtful
that it could not be fulfilled?" Sushma said.
She also cited that the matter was included in the
Common Minimum Programme of the UPA-1 government.
NDA Convenor Sharad Yadav said "we all are with you"
on the issue and the entire alliance is united on the demand
for a separate Telangana.
Speaking at the convention, senior BJP leader M
Venkaiah Naidu said "Congress will have to pay a heavy price
if the demand for a separate statehood is not met."
"If you have the political will, bring the Bill (on
Telangana in Parliament) and we will support it," Naidu said.
PTI
