Congress Leader P Chidambaram Issues Apology For Telangana Agitation Deaths Ahead of State Elections

In a surprising development, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram issued an apology for the lives lost during the Telangana statehood agitation.

Chidambaram, who served as the Union home minister during the critical period, expressed remorse for the deaths that occurred during the movement for a separate Telangana state.

As reported by Indian Express, the move triggered a swift response from K T Rama Rao, a senior leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), who dismissed it as "too little, too late".

Chidambaram's apology is significant as he was in office on 9 December, 2009, when the Congress government at the Centre announced the initiation of the process for the formation of Telangana.

The announcement came amid heightened tensions and the almost midnight conclusion of K Chandrashekar Rao's "indefinite" fast for separate statehood.

While Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had previously offered condolences for lives lost during the statehood agitation, Chidambaram's apology takes on added weight due to his role as the Union home minister at the time.

However, the Congress leader's statement has been met with controversy, with KCR asserting that the delay in the formation of Telangana, orchestrated by the Congress, resulted in avoidable loss of lives.

The political landscape in Telangana remains shaped by the statehood movement, with KCR projecting himself as the hero of the cause.

Meanwhile, the Congress, despite its role in the formation of Telangana, has struggled to make significant electoral gains in the region.