GoM on Telangana begins finalising recommendations

The Group of Ministers (GoM) looking into issues related to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh held its final round of consultations Wednesday before finalising its recommendations.

The GoM, headed by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, met for three-and-half hours in the national capital, and held final consultations with top officials of various departments.

The cabinet is meeting Thursday but it was not clear whether the GoM would submit its report.

Union ministers from Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra) continued to insist on union territory status for Hyderabad but Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh maintained that the constitution has the provisions for a common capital for a specific period.

Digvijaya Singh, who is in charge of party affairs in the state, hinted that the bill for forming Telangana state would be tabled during the winter session of parliament next month.

He told reporters that the draft bill would be sent to the Andhra Pradesh assembly as soon as possible.

"The issue of common capital can be addressed within framework of the constitution. An appropriate law can be framed and this is going to be done by the ministry of law and justice," he said.

The central ministers from Seemandhra during their separate meetings with Digvijaya Singh and also GoM members Jairam Ramesh and P. Chidambaram insisted that Hyderabad be made a union territory.

The ministers said if the bifurcation was inevitable, Hyderabad should be made a union territory and steps be taken for protecting the interests of the people of Seemandhra.

"There will be no compromise on the demand for union territory status to HMDA (Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority) limits," union Tourism Minister K. Chiranjeevi told reporters.

Another minister, D. Purandeswari, suggested that a committee of experts be constituted to identify the capital for the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh and to develop education and health facilities at par with Hyderabad.

The GoM held separate meetings with officials of various departments including home, finance, water resources, electricity and personnel to discuss issues related to sharing of water, electricity and revenue between Telangana and residuary state of Andhra Pradesh.

The GoM also held a meeting with K. Vijaya Kumar, who headed a task force to study security related issues following the state's division.

Vijaya Kumar, a security advisor to the union home ministry, has already submitted his report to the ministerial group.

The GoM also held a separate meeting with P.K. Mohanty, chief secretary of Andhra Pradesh, to discuss various issues related to the bifurcation.

The panel has already held consultations with political parties, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, central ministers from both Telangana and Seemandhra and also considered reports submitted by various departments after studying thousands of suggestions received from people and public representatives.