Congress chief whip in the legislative assembly Mr G. Venkataramana Reddy, who is considered to be very close to CM Kirankumar Reddy, said today that the Telangana masses didn’t believe the Congress party promises on the statehood issue and demanded the Centre to introduce the Telangana Bill in Parliament immediately.

Addressing media persons in Hyderabad, the T region congress MLA said Congress suffered defeat in the by polls because of the hollow promises made by the party leadership on the issue.

He said a resolution on the division of the state can never be introduced in the state assembly because of the peculiar position prevailing. “In this background, the Centre should take the initiative and introduce the Telangana bill in Parliament,” the chief whip demanded.

In another media conference in Hyderabad, T congress MP Mr Rajaiah said that the Telangana people are in favour of separate state despite development taking place in the region. “We will soon leave for Delhi and request the congress high command to take a quick decision on the issue and introduce the Bill in Parliament,” Rajaiah told newspersons.

Minister Sudarshan Reddy also told media persons at a press conference at Nizamabad that the T sentiment is strong and the by election results have proved it. “Now, an immediate decision is required on the issue,” he said. (J)