CWC decision on Telangana 'final', says Digvijay Singh

Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh on Monday affirmed that the Congress Working Committee's decision to grant statehood to Telangana is final and urged those with concerns to express them before A.K. Antony's committee.

Congress leader L. Rajagopal had resigned as Member of Parliament against the division of Andhra Pradesh.

"Mr. Rajagopal is a very respected Member of Parliament but he is not above the Congress Working Committee (CWC). The CWC decision is final and this decision has been taken after extensive consultation with all political parties. Therefore, what we have said in the CWC meeting, we stand by that. We shall do everything that is possible to see that the concerns of the people of Seemandhra-whether it is the NGO's or the students or the people of Seemandhra-are addressed," Singh said.

Singh reiterated that UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had set up a Committee to address the concerns of the people over the creation of Telangana and advised Rajgopal and other politicians to take their anxieties to the Committee.

"The Congress President has appointed a Committee headed by Mr. Antony. I would appeal to Mr. Rajagopal and senior Ministers and other Members of Parliament not to go public on this issue. Rather, they should come and meet and say whatever they want to say before Mr. Antony's committee," Singh added.

Demanding the Centre keep Andhra Pradesh united, more and more groups of people like auto rickshaw drivers, hotel managers associations are taking part in the protest demonstrations being held across the two regions of Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra.

Medical practitioners, lawyers and other professionals held rallies at several places. Managements of private educational institutes in Rayalaseema region continued their shutdown, while business entities remained closed at several places.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has said that the process for the formation of the new state of Telangana would take about five to six months as per constitutional norms.

"The Congress Working Committee (CWC) has passed a resolution and further procedure will be done according to the Constitution of India. Telangana will be formed by following all the procedures and it would take five to six months," he said.

He also added that Telangana was being formed because it was the oldest issue and the people of that region have been agitating and demanding the formation of a separate state since 1956.