Fix time frame for creation of separate state: Rao to Centre

"Give us a time frame. Be it six months, three months or two months," Congress leader from Telangana K Keshav Rao, who has resigned from his Rajya Sabha membership told reporters here.

Rao, who was accompanied by several MLAs and MPs from the region, said they wanted the process of formation of Telangana as a separate state, to be completed.

"The process was started by the statement of Home Minister P Chidambaram. Now we want it (the process) to conclude in the form of Telangana," he said.

He said the government and the party were under "moral pressure" to fulfil their long-pending demand. "We are talking of fulfilling the promise. It is not a new promise. It was made eight years ago. They have reiterated their promise on 12 occasions."

He also expressed "dismay" at the reported statements of Chidambaram and AICC in charge of Andhra Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad that "it can not be done in one or two minutes".

"We knew it was a complex issue when Congress Working Committee passed a resolution agreeing on Telangana state in principle...UPA-I included Telangana in its common minimum programme and the Presidential address in 2004 had reference to the Telangana formation," he said.

He scoffed at suggestions that MPs and MLAs who have resigned would form a new party.

"The resignations are not a tool to arm twist anyone.

It is only to fulfil our urge for a Telangana state," he said.