Whenever there is an ambiguous statement from Central leaders over the Telangana statehood issue, Congress MP from Vijayawada Lagadapati Rajagopal surfaces from nowhere and interprets the statement in such a way that the Telangana state would not become a reality.

In the latest instance, Lagadapati is trying to take advantage of the statement of home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde that the Telangana statehood issue was too complicated to be resolved immediately. He said the home minister’s statement clearly showed that Telangana state was not possible; and if Shinde really did not understand the subject, the Seemandhra leaders would enlighten him.

Obviously, Lagadapati’s statement incurred the wrath of the Telangana leaders.

“Lagadapati is a paper tiger. There is no need to take him seriously. People of Telangana know very well how to tackle this gentleman,” Telangana Joint Action Committee chairman Prof M Kodandaram said on Wednesday.

He alleged that Telangana state formation was getting delayed only because of such selfish forces like Lagadapati.

“But it cannot continue for a long time. The people of the region are getting ready for a long-drawn and intense fight all over again starting with Telangana march. We are not going to say what we would do on that day,” he said.