Kolkata: Coming out in support of creation
of a separate state of Telangana, top Maoist leader Kisenji
today accused the Centre of "depriving" people of the region
of their legitimate rights by "backtracking" from its move to
bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.
Kisenji, who hails from Telangana, told, "after Home
Minister P Chidamabaram declared that Telangana will be given
statehood which prompted Telangana Rastriya Samity Chief K
Chandrasekhar Rao to break his fast, the Centre is now
backtracking."
He alleged, "the Congress doesn't want to create a
separate state of Telangana and so they are creating
disturbance in the state."
Kisenji claimed that this was not the first time that the
Congress was going back on its words. "They have denied the
people of Vidarbha a separate state."
Asked whether a new state would solve the problems of the
people of Telangana, he said, "This is a 50-year-old demand.
Many people have given their lives for it. It is the time for
the government to show respect to it.
"I am from Telangana and my friends sacrificed their
lives for a separate state," Kisenji said.
He said a separate Telangana state was required to
protect the culture, religion and language of people there.
Maoists demand autonomy for three Bengal districts
A demand for autonomy for three
tribal-dominated districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and
Purulia in West Bengal was on Saturday made by a top Maoist leader,
who also justified the Gorkhaland statehood issue.
"We demand autonomy for the three districts on the
lines of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council," Maoist leader
Kishenji told agency from an undisclosed location.
He alleged that the West Bengal government had denied
the legitimate rights of the people of the districts. "We
demand autonomy to protect the language, culture and religious
beliefs of tribals."
Asked if he meant statehood, he replied, "the people
of the three districts are not yet prepared for statehood."
Queried if it was part of the demand for a 'greater
Jharkhand', Kishenji said, "That demand is no longer relevant.
The scenario has changed.
"Moreover the formation of Jharkhand has not solved
any problem. Going forward with the 'greater Jharkhand' demand
will not solve the problem of tribals," he said.
Kisenji, however, supported the demand for Gorkhaland
in Darjeeling stating that it was "legitimate".
"It is the oldest demand for a separate state. They
should be allowed a separate state to focus on their
development as the state government has neglected the tea and
tourism industry there," Kishenji claimed.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, December 12, 2009, 18:59