Even as pressure mounts both within the Congress and in Andhra Pradesh for an early resolution on the Telangana issue, the Union government on Saturday said it would require time as it embarked on a further process of consultations.
“We are in the process of consultations. Yesterday [Friday], we discussed it in the Core Group. Today, some of my colleagues discussed it with me. Further consultations would be needed,” Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here. He, however, did not elaborate on the form and nature of such an engagement.
Aware that agitations had paralysed the Telangana region districts, including Hyderabad, Mr. Mukherjee said there was need for further consultations.
On Saturday, Mr. Mukherjee met Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel, political secretary to the Congress president, to discuss the report submitted by Mr. Azad, which was taken up by the Core Committee on Friday.
Mr. Azad said the report was based on his extensive consultations, which were spread over two months, with representatives from all the three regions, including Members of Parliament, legislators, Ministers, and former parliamentarians and legislators.
“It is not an easy decision to be taken…whatever the decision, it will take some time,” he said, noting that certain news channels were speculating about the contents of the report prepared by him. Mr. Azad indicated that discussion would require consultations with some senior party leaders.
However, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat asserted that there was no need for further consultations with political parties on the issue and asked the government to take a decision without any delay.
“All political parties and various sections of society in Andhra Pradesh had submitted their views to the Srikrishna Committee. Hence, there is no need for further consultations with political parties. Procrastination will only worsen the situation,” Mr. Karat said in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Mr. Karat pointed out that it was nine months since the Srikrishna Committee submitted its report on Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Leaders of various political parties from different regions of the State are camping here for an early resolution of the issue.
