The “sarcastic” and “sadistic” smile put up by union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde was like rubbing salt on the wound of Telangana people and particularly, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

TRS legislator K T Rama Rao alleged that Shinde had virtually humiliated the people of Telangana by smiling sarcastically to the question on Telangana statehood issue.

“First of all, he needs to give an explanation to the people as to why he had set the deadline of January 28 for resolving the Telangnaa issue and why he had backed out on the same. He did not even apologise for backtracking on his assurance. Instead, he spoke in a sarcastic tone,” KTR criticised.

He said Shinde’s comments reflected the irresponsible behaviour of the Central government and its delaying tactics.

“The UPA government is playing with the sentiments of the people and pushing their lives into risk,” he alleged.