Telangana Congress MPs protest outside Parliament

New Delhi, Dec 7 (ANI): Congress lawmakers from Andhra Pradesh's Telangana region protested outside Parliament's Gate No. 1 on Wednesday demanding a Bill for the creation of the new state.

Holding banners and shouting slogans, the lawmakers demanded that the Central government take a decision on the Telangana issue without any further delay and restore normalcy in the state.

Congress lawmaker Madhu Goud Yaskhi said the state government was arresting protestors fighting for the cause.

"Today, we all Telangana Congress MPs protested to the Parliamentary Minister and party high command regarding the state government's repressive methods, particularly the police arresting a practicing doctor. The state government, particularly the police, is booking cases against the students and agitators, who are peacefully fighting for Telangana cause," said Yaskhi.

Yaskhi further said that the protests would intensify if the government failed to take an immediate decision on the issue.

"We are going to protest in the Parliament also and we strongly condemn the police atrocities on the Telangana agitators in Telangana area. Today the 'Raasta Roko' ('Block the Way') call has been given and again the protest and shutdown may be taking place. But we brought to the notice of the Parliament and we are going to use all parliamentary procedures to protest to achieve our cause of Telangana," he added.

Pro-Telangana activists have stepped up their efforts for the four-decade-old demand of a separate state, which is sought to be carved out of the economically less developed parts of Andhra Pradesh.

The struggle gathered momentum last year after the UPA government accepted their demand in principle.

Several protests and shutdowns had brought Andhra Pradesh to a near halt in 2009 and 2010, as pro-Telangana activists persisted with their demand. (ANI)