Manohar to approach External Affairs ministry

HYDERABAD: Assembly Speaker N Manohar is planning to approach external affairs ministry to probe into the US cables released by whistleblower website Wikileaks in connection with his alleged remarks on Telangana agitation.He is examining the documents (cables) and the media reports which have kicked off a political storm in the state.Talking to mediapersons after paying tributes to former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy on his second death anniversary here on Friday, the Speaker reiterated that he had not made any such comments against Telangana agitation or Dalit students.He said he had never hurt any person or community as he has great respect for others.“It is not in my nature.I do not have any agenda against anybody but they (Wikileaks) might have their own agenda.Such reports hurt me a lot,” he said.It is learnt that the Speaker is likely to refer the matter to the ministry of external affairs in the next couple of days.The cables released by Wikileaks quoted Manohar in a conversation with the then US consul general in Hyderabad Cornelis M Keur saying that “the police are convinced that, like in 1969, the current unrest over Telangana statehood will result in a successful recruiting campaign by Naxalite forces in the region.Many former Naxalite leaders emerged from the earlier agitations and they garnered significant sympathy throughout Telangana due to their support for statehood.”