Hyderabad, July 01: The Government of India is taking rapid steps to resolve the contentious Telangana issue before the monsoon session of Parliament commences on August 1 and an announcement in this regard is likely to be made shortly.
The Chief Minister Mr. N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who is in New Delhi, called on both the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and AICC President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi when the Telangana issue seem to have prominently figured along with other important matters concerning the state.
Informed sources disclosed that the Chief Minister had informed both the leaders the imperative need for resolving the Telangana affair without prolonging it further lest it might create an adverse impact on the ruling Congress in the state. He wanted some categorical announcement from the Centre in this aspect and had also assured that he would abide by the decision of the High Command.
According to reliable sources the Centre might not make any firm commitment on the bifurcation of the state at least till the 2014 elections. However, it might come out with a “package” including the setting up of an autonomous regional council for the Telangana and also make a separate budget allocation for the development of the region .This was in tune with one of the recommendations of the Justice Sri Krishna Committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to prepare a road made to resolve the issue.
Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy is also likely to call on the Defence Minister Mr. A.K. Antony and the AICC General Secretary Mr. Rahul Gandhi when is expected to explain the mounting problems being faced by his government in view of the delay in resolving the Telangana issue. He might also take the opportunity to broach the activities of the Congress legislators in extending support to Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and seek necessary disciplinary action against them.
The Chief Minister’s consultation with the central leaders including the AICC President is being viewed with great importance in the wake of the separatists including Congress leaders from the Telangana region besides the TRS stepping up their moves to intensify the agitation. Amidst the raging political uncertainty the threat of the agitators taking it to the streets has become a cause of consternation for police and security agencies.
The students of the Kakatiya University have already began agitation against the Centre’s move to announce a “package deal” by commencing an indefinite fast by four student leaders. They asserted that nothing short of a separate state would be acceptable to them. The suspended TDP legislator Dr. Nagam Janardhan Reddy has also planned to commence fast from July 3 and he was assured of support by Congress leaders as well as the TRS.
The scheduled meeting of all the elected representatives of the people hailing from the Telangana region including ministers, MPs, and MLAs on Friday to discuss about their future course of action including submitting resignation to their posts and also from the party would be keenly watched by the Centre. The President of the TRS Mr. K. Chandrashekar Rao and the Convenor of the TJAC Prof. Kodandaram have been holding consultations with the senior Congress leaders including Minister K. Jana Reddy and Rajya Sabha member Dr. K. Kesava Rao for the past two days. Hence the scheduled meeting of separatist leaders on Friday has attained a lot of political importance.
–Agencies