Telangana report today, PM holds review meet

With Telangana statehood committee expected to submit its report tomorrow, Prime Minister Mamnohan Singh today discussed with senior cabinet colleagues the situation which may emerge in polarised Andhra Pradesh and the steps to deal with it.

The meeting deliberated on various scenarios expected after the submission of the report by the five-member Justice Srikrishna committee which may or may not recommend the carving out of a Telangana state from Andhra Pradesh, sources said.

The possibility of violence breaking out in either case was also discussed at the meeting which was attended by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A K Antony, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Law Minister M Veerappa Moily besides senior government officials, they said.

After submission of the report, the government is expected to come out with a statement, saying that while it is committed to separate Telangana statehood, the “objections or problems” needed to be resolved through consultations and dialogue with people from all regions of Andhra Pradesh before the process of state formation could be taken forward, they said.

The statement is expected to appeal to all sections to allow consultations and dialogue to take place in a friendly and peaceful manner, the sources said. The committee, which was constituted on February 3 and went into the demand for Telangana state, is expected to submit its report to Home Minister P Chidambaram tomorrow, a day before its term expires. It will suggest “several options with their pros and cons” on the statehood issue.

The Committee was constituted by the Centre on February 3 to look into the demands for the creation of a separate state as well as keeping Andhra Pradesh united.