Hyderabad, May 07: Differing with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Justice B N Srikrishna, heading the committee set up by the Centre to examine the situation in Andhra Pradesh, in the wake of demand for and against division of the state, today said ultimately Parliament and the Centre had to decide on the issue of statehood.
He was reacting to Mr Chidambaram’s reported statement in Parliament yesterday that it was for the leaders in Andhra Pradesh to decide on the the vexed issue.
”Basically it is for the Centre to take a view. The people’s views will be a big factor when Parliament takes a decision on a Bill as and when the Centre introduces it,” Justice Srikrishna told reporters here after concluding his third phase of consultations with stake-holders.
”We are here only to feel the pulse of the people. Our work is going on at full speed,” said Justice Srikrishna, who held consultations with members of the Telangana Intellectuals Forum and the Telangana Development Forum today.
”We had very fruitful discussions with various organisations.
They have made useful presentations to us on the issue”, he said.
The Committee would hold the next round of consultations with two different groups within the TDP on May 10 and with the All India Majilis-E-Itihadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the Indian Union Muslim League on May 11. It would elicit the views of members of the Samakya Andhra Joint Action Committee, TDP (LP) President Lakshmi Parvathi and the Telangana Freedom Fighters Forum on May 12.
Stating that the Committee had received over 1.30 lakh representations, he said while some were well documented, many were mere post cards pressing for Telangana state.
”We will consider all necessary inputs using our own discretion,” he said.
No representation would be discarded, Committee member Abusaleh Shariff said, adding, ”All these are Government of India property.
00Agencies