Prime Minister Indira Gandhi called for a high-level meeting to discuss
the Telangana issue, and she precisely knew whom to invite to the meeting—Dr.
Chenna Reddy. It is worth noting that Dr. Reddy still was not publicly supporting
the separate state movement and was, on paper, an integrationist.
In addition to Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
held extensive discussions with the state and central leaders, including
Home Minister Chavan, Congress Party President Nijalingappa, Kaachuraj,
Sanjeevaiah, Central Minister Kotha Raghuramaiah, CM Brahmananda
Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Congress President Kakani Venkataratnam, Minister
V. B. Raju, Nookala Ramachandra Reddy, and Chokka Rao. At the end of
these extensive discussions, the prime minister proposed an 8-point formula
to resolve the ongoing crisis.
Dr. Chenna Reddy and the other Telangana leaders participating in
the discussions expressed their disappointment with the outcome. They
complained that the regional council did not have the constitutional authority
to implement planning, development, and employment and that the PM had
not invited the leaders, Achyutha Reddy and Konda Lakshman.
For the next round of discussions, Prime Minister Gandhi invited all
the prominent Telangana leaders, including Konda Lakshman, K. V. Ranga
Reddy, Jalagam Vengal Rao, and C. H. Vidya Sagar Rao, for talks. They all
declined the invitation. K. V. Ranga Reddy went a step further and suggested
that the PM should come to A.P. to assess the situation personally. Though
Ranga Reddy said it politely, he was trying to show off his position of strength
by asking the PM to come to the state, instead of his going to Delhi.
K. V. Ranga Reddy committed a political blunder. With his extensive
political experience, it is surprising that he did not realize that he was dealing
with a woman who did not like to be muscled around. The tough position
taken by the Telangana leaders made Smt. Gandhi even more resolute.
Meanwhile, the Telangana Regional Congress Committee met in
Gandhi Bhavan. During the two days of discussions, Dr. Chenna Reddy
argued for a Telangana state, and P. V. Narasimha Rao argued for an integrated
state while admitting that the government made some mistakes that affected
the Nizam Telangana region. Rao said that the separatists had exaggerated
these mistakes to such a point that they sounded absurd. Alluding to Chenna
Reddy’s role in dragging the students into the movement, Rao warned that
the leaders were taking the students down a wrong path. P. V. Narasimha
Rao remained a staunch integrationist throughout the movement and never
flinched, even when the public mood was overwhelmingly for separation.
Dr. Chenna Reddy who was running the Telangana Praja Samithi (TPS)
from behind the screens now came out in the open, became its president, and
announced his support for a separate Telangana state. His home became a hub
for political activity. Thirty Congress Party legislators met at his place to discuss
their plan. Chenna Reddy threatened to launch, in a few days, a “powerful
movement that would paralyze the entire administration in Telangana.” The
leaders’ language turned highly provocative with open threats of violence.
Chenna Reddy warned the Coastal Andhra employees in the Telangana
districts that unless they behave as servants of the Telangana people, very
serious consequences would follow.
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