No divisions in Congress on Telangana, says Kiran Kumar

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy interacts with journalists during a high tea at the Andhra Bhavan in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

The Union government will release the findings of the Justice B.N. Srikrishna Committee that went into the demands of a separate Telangana State and a united Andhra Pradesh, among other things, at an all-party meeting convened by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram here on Thursday.

Well placed sources said representatives of the Congress, BJP, CPI, CPI(M), TDP, TRS, Praja Rajyam Party and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) were invited for the meeting and they would be given copies of the report. Depending on the consensus arrived at, they would be given a time-frame to revert back with their opinions.

The sources said the committee has given suggestions for a “way forward” on the issue. While the main report (Volume I) would consist the committee's conclusion on each of the Terms of References, Volume II would have appendices relating to references for the information generated, statistical information, historical background, etc.

Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister and senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday met with party leaders from the Rayalaseema, coastal and Telangana regions of Andhra Pradesh, including Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, and suggested to them to keep the party's interests intact after the Srikrishna report is made public. He advised them not to embarrass the organisation.

Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who called on other senior Congress leaders, made light of the TRS and BJP decision to boycott the all-party meeting on Thursday, stating that after making announcements “many people change them.”

He denied that there was division in the Congress on the Telangana issue. He stressed that the Congress regime would complete its term till 2014 and provide a stable government. His government would ensure that there was no violence in the State after the Srikrishna Committee report was made public, he asserted.

BJP stand

Meanwhile, sources in the BJP justified the party's decision to boycott the all-party meeting, saying the Home Ministry was attempting to “buy time.”

No purpose would be solved by attending the meeting, they said adding, “what is the need for holding such a meeting after Mr. Chidambaram has, on December 9, 2009, declared that the Centre has initiated the process of forming a Telangana State.”