T assembly demands special status for Telangana

Hyderabad, The Telangana Legislative Assembly on Saturday adopted a resolution seeking 'special category state' status for the newly formed state.

Telangana has all the qualifications to be given the special state status. The Centre should treat both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on equal basis, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said here, moving the resolution.

Leaders of other parties supported it. The Assembly also adopted a resolution opposing merger of seven mandals under Bhadrachalam revenue division, which would be affected by the Polavaram irrigation project, with Andhra Pradesh.

The House asked the Centre to withdraw its ordinance in this regard. Merger of these seven mandals with AP is unconstitutional, Chief Minister Rao said, moving the resolution.

Telangana would suffer severe loss if the Polavaram project was built without changing its design, he said, adding that Telangana Assembly totally opposes this. In another resolution, the House hailed teenagers M Purna and Anand who recently scaled Mount Everest.

The government announced a reward of Rs 25 lakh each for the two students besides five acres of agricultural land. The House adopted a resolution to the effect. Their coach, Sekhar Babu, would also be given a reward of Rs 25 lakh. Another resolution adopted by the Assembly sought immediate division of the state high court, following the bifurcation. 

The government also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the students who drowned in river Beas in Himachal Pradesh recently. Chief Minister Rao made the announcement while moving a condolence motion.

The House mourned the deaths and expressed sympathies with the families of students. The Assembly also adopted a resolution paying tribute to the martyrs who laid down their lives for separate Telangana state.

The government would stand by the martyrs' families, the Chief Minister said. A memorial would be built in Hyderabad for the martyrs, he said, adding that the issue would be discussed at an all-party meeting soon.

Congress leader G Chinna Reddy, TDP leader A Revanth Reddy, BJP leader K Laxman, MIM leader Jaffar Hussain, CPM legislator S Rajaiah and others also spoke.