Ajit Singh forms Telangana unit of RLD

Hyderabad, Oct 7 (IANS) The movement for a separate Telangana state received a shot in the arm with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief and Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh Sunday forming his party’s unit in the region.

At a meeting held here, Ajit Singh named an RLD executive committee for Telangana and declared that he would back the demand for a separate state.

He also held talks with Congress members of parliament (MP) from Telangana and leaders of Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) and called for unity among all parties and groups fighting for separate statehood.

Ajit Singh, who was accompanied by his son, Jayant Choudhary, attended a breakfast meeting at Congress MP Madhu Yaskhi’s residence.

Congress leader K. Keshava Rao, MPs, JAC convener M. Kodandaram and other leaders were also present.

Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi’s presence at the meeting surprised all as his party wants Andhra Pradesh to remain united.

Owaisi, however, told reporters that he was there to meet his friend Jayant. He said there was no politics in his presence at the breakfast meet.

Ajit Singh said there was no parallel to the Telangana movement and exuded confidence that people’s aspiration for their own state would be fulfilled.

He announced an executive committee for the RLD’s Telangana unit at a meeting attended by representatives from various districts.

"This is just the beginning. We need to unite all those who are part of the movement," Ajit Singh said.

The RLD chief said the recent Telangana march held in Hyderabad was being discussed in Delhi.

He, however, said it would be difficult to predict when the union government would carve out the Telangana state.

Madhu Yaskhi and other MPs thanked Ajit Singh for supporting the cause of Telangana.