Andhra governor meets Sonia to discuss Telengana

Fears violence in the time of festival and an international conference

Governor E S L Narasimhan called on UPA chief Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi yesterday to discuss the upcoming Ganesha nimajjan, the Telengana March and the Biodiversity Conference, all of which are happening between September 29 and October 1.

Due to the likelihood of the Telengana March on September 30 turning violent during a festival and an international-level conference on October 1, that will be hosting many foreign delegates, the Governor is understood to have asked Sonia to pacify the feelings of pro-Telengana groups.

Narasimhan had already spoken to Telegana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) chairman M Kodandaram if they were willing to defer the March in view of the conference, but was unable to get a firm committment on the same.

However, expectations regarding the formation of a separate Telengana state is at an all time low with the Trinamool Congress having walked out of the UPA government.

The governor did not reveal much about his meeting with Sonia. When asked if he was expecting a decision on Telangana, he said he did not know.