HYDERABAD: In a loaded statement that is likely to fuel fresh controversy, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhar Rao categorically stated on Sunday that after the formation of a new state, employees from Seemandhra would have to vacate posts held in Telangana region.

In its reply to the group of ministers (GoM) that had asked for suggestions from eight political parties, the TRS said Telangana employees had suffered gross injustice at the hands of united Andhra Pradesh government as it recruited non-locals in violation of laws over decades.

The letter, a copy of which is in possession of TOI said: “As per our rough estimation, 30% of the government employees presently working in Telangana belong to Seemandhra and all of them were illegally recruited over the decades,” the letter signed by KCR and sent to the GoM says.

“The Telangana employees have suffered gross injustice at the hands of AP govt. Many non-locals who were recruited against quota of 20% (Dist category), 30% (Non-gazetted category) and 40% (Gazetted category) have to be repatriated based on the definition of “local candidate” as defined in the Presidential Order 1975, and on the basis of nativity as reflected in the service registers.”

On the status of Hyderabad after division, the TRS has said it would not accept the formula making the city the common capital for 10 years. The party said it must not be the joint capital for more than two years.

KCR’s demand comes at a time when Seemandhra employees are up in arms against the proposal of the state division and had struck work for 66 days, demanding the government to address their concerns over job security and status of Hyderabad. They had launched the strike on August 12, after KCR flip-flopped on the employees issue, by once saying that coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema employees must go back to their region, only to correct it later saying that he only meant divided Andhra Pradesh would need employees to fill up vacancies created after the formation of Telangana.

