No going back on new state: Cong tells pro-Telangana party MPs

The assurance was given by Ahmed Patel, Political Secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, to a delegation of unhappy pro-Telangana party MPs which met him to press that the commitment to form a separate state should not be diluted, according to one of the delegation members Madhu Goud Yaskhi.

The 11 MPs, who met Patel hours after submitting their resignations, briefed him on the situation in Andhra Pradesh and insisted on a fresh statement expressing government's commitment to Telangana as last night's announcement had caused "doubts".

Patel "assured us that there will be no deviation on party's stand on Telangana and there is no going back," Yaskhi told reporters after the meeting. The delegation contended that the ambiguity needs to be removed and Patel responded by saying that steps would be taken in this direction.

The Congress MPs are unhappy that yesterday's statement by Home Minister P Chidambaram did not mention that the government remains committed to Telangana statehood. They want the government to issue a new statement, which would say that the government will hold consultations and proceed on forming Telangana, sources said.

The pro-Telangana Congress MPs are not opposed to consultations as stated by the Centre but want the government to commit that there will be no dilution in the spirit of December 9 statement, which talked about decision to start the process of forming Telangana. On the issue of resignations, Yaskhi said these will not be taken back. "Resignations are a small step. We have obligation to fulfill aspirations of people of Telangana," he said.

Earlier, the delegation met Union Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy, who also hails from Telangana region but has not resigned. During that meeting, the MPs asked him to join them by quitting to present the united face.

The MPs are also unhappy over deployment of central forces, alleging they are discriminating and targeting pro-Telangana people.