HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Congress president Botsa Satyanarayana today favoured giving a temporary break to the ongoing agitations in Andhra Pradesh over the Telangana issue in view of the ill-health of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi."Yes, I agree with that. Sonia Gandhiji will have to take the decision. So, that will take time. Secondly, I have earlier said the issue can only be resolved through talks.Accordingly, Congress is holding talks with its leaders from various regions," he told reporters here.He was asked about the suggestion made by former Chief Minister K Rosaiah that a temporary break should be given to the agitations in AP over the Telangana issue as Sonia Gandhi is not well."The final decision has to be taken by them (Central government). As UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhiji needs to give her advice. Since she is unwell, the agitators should give a temporary break to their campaign. They can voice their demands after her return," Rosaiah said earlier in the day.Pointing out that such breaks were given even during India's independence movement, Rosaiah, who participated in the freedom struggle, said, "All the leaders, including Sushma Swaraj, have wished speedy recovery of Sonia Gandhiji. I appeal all the leaders of Telangana and other regions to observe restraint and think calmly."The state Congress president said he and all other Congressmen in the state prayed for the speedy recovery of Gandhi. Talking about the strike notice issued by the Andhra Pradesh government employees in Telangana in support of separate statehood demand, among others, Satyanarayana said the government is ready to discuss with them any issue within its jurisdiction.He said the Congress government in the state is committed to get Clause 14 (F) of Presidential Order of 1975 that makes Hyderabad a free zone for employment, deleted.He said he has told the Central leaders during his recent trip to Delhi about the Andhra Pradesh assembly resolution passed earlier. The resolution urged the Centre to get the clause deleted.Replying to a query, the state Congress president indicated that the joining of actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi in Congress may get delayed due to the ill-health of Sonia Gandhi.Chiranjeevi was supposed to formally take the membership of Congress in the presence of Sonia Gandhi in Delhi next week. Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam merged with Congress earlier.To another query, he said the Congress has decided to groom either one leader or a group of leaders in the constituencies, where the Congress MLAs were siding with the Kadapa MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.Simultaneously, disciplinary action would also be taken against such MLAs, he said.Satyanarayana would tour East Godavari district on August 21 and 22 as part of his district tours.
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