Hyderabad: The Congress high command may have finally decided to address the Telangana statehood demand and could announce its decision by the end of June.
There were indications to this effect by both minister of state for home R.P.N. Singh and AICC spokesperson P.C. Chacko, stating that ‘consultations are being held at the highest level’ and a decision is expected ‘soon’. There are no indications as yet of the nature of the decision.
A top source from Delhi says that it could be either a package for Telangana or outright announcement of statehood with some protections for Hyderabad as the capital city.
Asked about reports in a section of the media that the Centre had decided to announce an economic package for Telangana, together with a special authority to implement it, the AICC spokesperson said, ‘nothing has been decided as of now’.
Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, who is camping in Delhi for the last two days, is expected to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi. His meetings with all the Congress Core Committee members, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and home minister Sushilkumar Shinde gave rise to expectations of an announcement on Telangana within the next few days.
Union minister S. Jaipal Reddy rejected the proposal of a ‘package’ for Telangana in a discussion with a top Congress leader, sources said. Reddy reportedly said the Centre should either say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and not announce packages as that would further insult the region’s people.
A clutch of ministers has landed up in Delhi, raising expectations of an announcement. AP in-charge Digvijay Singh might be in Delhi on Thursday. In the city, reports of an economic package created a flutter, with T-leaders quickly debunking that such a proposal was in lieu of statehood.
Source: The Asian Age