C.W.C. MEMBERS BACK ANDHRA C.M.

harinder@tribunemail.com

NEW DELHI, June 19 (PTI)—The Congress High Command’s attitude to the separate Telengana movement has stiffened with the rejection by the extremist leaders, Dr. M. Chenna Reddy and Mr. Konda Laxman Bapuji, of the offer of a hearing at tomorrow’s meeting of the Working Committee. The committee will hear the other two Telengana leaders, Mr. N. Ramachandra Reddy and Mr. J. Chokka Rao, who have accepted its invitation. It has, however, decided on fully backing the present Chief Minister, Mr. K. Brahmananda Reddy, having made up its mind against separate Telengana and President’s rule. Mr. D. Sanjivayya, former Chief Minister, was alone in demanding that President’s rule must be imposed to restore normalcy in the strife-torn Telengana region. He could get the committee to agree only to the suggestion that the Telengana leaders must be heard before any decision was taken.