Hyderabad, October 23: Former home minister K Jana Reddy today called for a constitutional amendment to resolve the row over Hyderabad’s status as a free zone in the matter of government service in case the review petition to be filed by the State Government in the apex court did not yield `justice’.
Alleging failure on the part of the home ministry to file petitions in courts on the issue, the Congress MLA and senior leader from the Telangana region said, “We (Telangana Congress leaders) are analysing all aspects, particularly the lapses or differences found in the affidavits filed before the High Court and in the Supreme Court on free zone issue. We will convey our views to the government before it files the review petition in the Supreme Court.’’ Addressing a press conference here, he hoped that `justice’ would be done if the government filed the review petition after rectifying the errors or lapses that took place in the past. The government should go in for constitutional amendment only after availing the option of filing a review petition. There was a need to engage `expert’ advocates (to fight the issue) even if they belonged to other regions of the State or other States, he added.
On Telangana, he said the Congress high command was seized of the matter and would resolve the issue at an appropriate time taking into consideration the views of the people of the region.
As for the Rosaiah Committee on Telangana, he said it had been formed before the last general election and its functioning was delayed due to the commencement of 2009 elections, formation of new government, YSR’s death in a helicopter crash, floods and other incidents.
“We have not jettisoned the cause (Telangana) but will convey our views to the Congress high command from time to time,’’ he said.
–Agencies