40,000 ready to sacrifice life for Telangana: KCR

Hyderabad: Stepping up pressure on the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhara Rao on Tuesday claimed that over 100 legislators from Telangana, cutting across party lines, were ready to resign if the Central Government backtracked on separate statehood to the region.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said all MPs from the region had left for Delhi with their resignation letters in their pocket. Telangana region sends 17 of the state's total 42 MPs to the Lok Sabha.

The TRS chief made the claim even as Congress' central leaders held a series of talks with MPs and leaders from Telangana, coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.

With MPs, state legislators and other leaders from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema opposing division of Andhra Pradesh, there are indications that the government might backtrack on its December 9 announcement to initiate the process for formation of Telangana.

As the protests continue in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema for the 12th day, Congress leaders from the two regions are hoping that the Centre would come out with a new statement on Wednesday.

KCR, whose party has only 10 legislators among the total 119 legislators from Telangana, said all the legislators from the region were in touch with him over phone.

The TRS president warned of a blood bath if the Centre backtracked on its statement. "If the Centre created any hurdles, 400,000 people out of the four crore population of Telangana are ready to sacrifice their lives," he said.

He ridiculed the ongoing exercise of holding talks with Andhra and Rayalaseema MPs. "What is there to talk? The state formation has already been announced and there is no territorial dispute involved. The borders are clearly demarcated. Hyderabad State (Telangana) and Andhra State had clear state borders as on October 31, 1956 - a day before they were merged (to form Andhra Pradesh)," he said.

KCR said there was no question of compromise on Hyderabad being capital of Telangana and warned of teaching a fitting lesson to those demanding that Hyderabad should not be included in Telangana.