Suspense continues on formation of Telengana

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) had a meeting with the lawmakers from the state here today to discuss the creation of separate Telangana state out of Andhra Pradesh.

Minister of Endowments in Andhra Pradesh, C Ramachandraiah said that a decision of the High Command after the detailed rounds of talks is still awaited and at this point of time, it would be unwise to speculate.

"It is not the question of protest because they have not taken a decision. Because through media we came to know that they are likely to consider the requests of Telangana, the sentiments of the Seema Andhra people have increased. So they have been complacent till now with the impression that the High Command may not accept the demand of the Telangana," he said.

Sharing his views, Law Minister of Andhra Pradesh E Pratap Reddy said that as a worker of the Congress party, he would have to abide by its decisions.

Incidentally, Pratap Reddy hails from the Rayalseema region of Andhra Pradesh where the people are against bifurcation of the state to form Telangana.

"As a Congress party worker, we will have to go with whatever decision is taken by the High Command. If someone doesn't want to abide by the decision that comes, then the only choice is resigning. I am not saying that I will resign, after all we have been elected by the people," said Pratap Reddy.

The Telangana Movement was organized to support the creation of a new state from the existing state of Andhra Pradesh. The long-standing demand of the people behind the movement has been that a separate state was the only solution to ending the neglect and exploitation in the region.

The demand for the separate state has witnessed violent protests and political power play, with hundreds of lives lost between 1969 and 1972.

Congress MPs from Telangana have so far accused the Centre of following what they call a 'one-step-forward-two-backward' approach when it comes to addressing their demand for a separate state.

The Centre's flip-flop over the issue began in December 2009 when the then Home Minister P. Chidambaram promised the formation of a new state only to go back on it after a few days.

The issue was later pushed before a committee headed by Justice B.N. Srikrishna. This panel did not come up with a tangible solution, but instead presented six options.

These included the creation of a Telangana Regional Council within Andhra, bifurcation of the state into Telangana with Hyderabad as the capital and Seemandhra with a new capital; bifurcation of the state into Seemandhra and Telangana after making Hyderabad a Union Territory; bifurcation of the state into Seemandhra and Telangana with enlarged Hyderabad metropolis as a Union Territory; bifurcation of the state into Rayala Telangana and Coastal Andhra; and maintenance of status quo.