New Delhi, December 31: THE Centre has called a meeting of all political parties from Andhra Pradesh on January 5 to arrive at a political consensus on the Telangana issue.
Home minister P. Chidambaram sent invitations to leaders of the Telugu Desam Party ( TDP), TRS, CPM, CPI, BJP, Praja Rajyam Party ( PRP), MIM and the Congress for the meeting to be held in the Capital.
The JAC of political parties spearheading the campaign for a separate Telangana welcomed the Centre’s decision.
JAC convenor M. Kodandaram said though it was a welcome step, “ we would like to know the scope and purpose of the exercise”. Last week, the home minister had promised to hold consultations with all political parties and groups concerned after Congress MPs and MLAs from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions threatened to launch an agitation if the state was bifurcated.
The government was earlier thinking on setting up a mechanism ( a committee headed by a cabinet secretary) to talk to all stakeholders and resolve the imbroglio.
On Monday, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee discussed the “ mechanism” with a delegation of Congress ministers from Telangana. He told them that the Centre could offer a “ huge financial package” to boost development in the underdeveloped region.
However, TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao rejected the suggestion saying there was no need for a committee as it would result in time wastage.
Rao, who is in touch with senior Congress leaders, including Chidambaram and law minister Veerappa Moily, AICC incharge of Andhra, is expected to arrive in Delhi this weekend for “ broader consultations”. The TDP did not react enthusiastically to the January- 5 meeting. Sources close to TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu believed that by holding such a meeting, the Congress was trying to “ embarrass” Naidu.
The Congress leadership is skeptical about the outcome of the proposed meeting because the so- called December 7 had consensus collapsed in the wake of an anti- Telangana agitation in the rest of Andhra.
——Courtesy: Mail Today