Jaipal Reddy declines to comment on Telangana issue

Senior Congress leader from Andhra Pradesh and union minister S.Jaipal Reddy today refused to comment on the volatile Telangana issue.
"I will not like to comment on the issue as anything I say would provoke people," said the senior leader on the sidelines of an event. Reddy is also the union minister for Science, Technology and Earth Sciences.
The region has been witnessing widespread protests by people, including those in power sector. YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy and Telugu Desam Party supremo N Chandrababu Naidu have gone on fast over the decision.
Notwithstanding ongoing protests in Seemandhra, the Centre has expedited the process of creation of a separate Telangana state with the announcement that the first meeting of the GoM set up to look into the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh will be held on Friday.

Powermen in Seemandhra region have gone on strike, creating outages in the region.
Asked about it, Reddy said "this is matter of the state and the Centre. I would not like to comment."

Reddy had earlier suggested that an agreement could be signed between the people of Seemandhra and Telangana to address all contentious issues.
The agreement could be on the lines of the 'Gentlemen's Agreement' signed in 1956 during the amalgamation of the erstwhile Hyderabad state with Andhra, Reddy had said earlier.
Meanwhile, Naidu, who is on hunger strike in the national capital to protest splitting of Andhra Pradesh, has demanded an all-party meeting to discuss creation of Telangana state and convening of the Joint Action Committees of Telangana and Seemandhra regions to find an amicable solution.