Confusion over whether AP Day will be held again

On other hand, pro-Telangana outfits protested against govt celebrating state's formation day

People of the state are in an uncertain situation and there is confusion whether we will be celebrating the Andhra Pradesh formation day again, according to chief minister, N Kiran Kumar Reddy.

Presiding over the state formation day celebrations on Friday against the backdrop of the Centre deciding to accord a separate statehood to the Telangana region, Reddy,  who is opposed to bifurcation of AP, wished  such celebrations continued in future.

On the other hand, pro-Telangana outfits protested against the government celebrating the state’s formation day.

Reddy’s Cabinet colleagues hailing from Telangana boycotted the festivities.

Andhra Pradesh is the first linguistic state to be formed in the country on November 1, 1956. Since then, the state's formation day was being celebrated by the government.

However, going by the current developments, Reddy could as well go down in history as the last chief minister to preside over AP formation day celebrations.

According to the latest reports, the Centre is expediting the process for carving out Telangana state and a Bill to this effect is likely to be introduced in the ensuing winter session of Parliament.

The Group of Ministers (GoM) set up to sort out the bifurcation issues had already met twice and is going to meet again on November 7.

Also, the special task force constituted to go into the issues pertaining to law and order has concluded its discussions with serving and retired police officers and is expected to submit its report shortly.

Meanwhile, the Union home ministry had sent letters to eight political parties in the state seeking their views on the terms of reference of the GoM by November 5 besides deciding to hold an all-party meeting once again.