GoM on Telangana to meet Friday

The reconstituted Group of Ministers (GoM) looking into the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh will hold its first meeting here on Friday.

To be chaired by Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, the GoM has not been set any deadline, as against the six-week timeframe envisaged earlier.

The Central Government had earlier on Tuesday reorganized the GoM, cutting its strength from 10 to seven ministers.

The members now include Shinde, Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Veerappa Moily and Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh. Minister of State for Personnel V. Narayanasamy shall be a special invitee.

Stating that the GoM on Telangana will submit its report as early as possible, Shinde yesterday said justice will be given to people of Andhra Pradesh.

"The government will take the decision. All points will be taken into consideration and justice will be given to Andhra people," he told media here.

Meanwhile, the power sector employees in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh have called off their indefinite strike temporarily.

On October 3, the Union Cabinet had decided to go ahead with the process for the creation of a separate Telangana state carved out from Andhra Pradesh.