Jubilation, festive spirit at Andhra Bhawan for Telangana

A festive spirit pervaded the Andhra Pradesh Bhawan premises here no sooner the Congress Working Committee formally endorsed the creation of Telangana.

A huge contingent of ministers, MPs and MLAs from the Telangana region led by Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Damodara Raja Narasimha arrived at the AP Bhawan to celebrate the much awaited announcement on the new state.

Even as "Jai Telangana" slogans rent the air, 'ladoos' were distributed and a sense of happiness and triumph was writ large on the faces of supporters of Telangana at the AP Bhawan that became the centre of celebrations.

Speaking to reporters, Narasimha said it was a historic day in the annals of the Telangana struggle.

"It is a struggle of six decades in which hundreds of youth have sacrificed their lives for the sake of Telangana," he said.

Stating that it was a struggle for "self-identity, self-respect, and self-rule", Narasimha said the people of Telangana thanked Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the CWC for getting the resolution passed.

AP Panchayat Raj Minister K Jana Reddy thanked the leaders and martyrs who struggled for the creation of Telangana. He expressed hope that both Telangana and Andhra would work in a spirit of cohesion for the development of both the states.

State government's chief whip Venkatramana Reddy said it was the happiest day in the lives of the people of Telangana.

Members of Parliament V Hanumantha Rao and Ponnam Prabhakar, and state ministers DK Aruna and Sunita Lakshma Reddy were among the leaders of the Telangana region who participated in the celebrations at the AP Bhawan.

Andhra Pradesh CM Kiran Kumar Reddy, who is opposed to the bifurcation of the state, left for Hyderabad just before the celebration began.