Make up mind on Telangana: PC to parties

Responding to a calling attention motion on the Telangana issue, home minister P Chidambaram told the Lok Sabha that as many as four political parties of Andhra Pradesh out of eight have not yet "made up their mind" on Telangana.

Faced with a ticklish situation, the government on Friday threw the ball in the court of the political parties in Andhra Pradesh for a decision on the issue of separate state of Telangana.

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Responding to a calling attention motion on the Telangana issue, home minister P Chidambaram told the Lok Sabha that as many as four political parties of Andhra Pradesh out of eight have not yet "made up their mind" on Telangana.

Three parties - TRS, BJP and CPI - favoured carving out of the new state while CPI-M is opposed to the idea, he said.

The parties which have not made up their mind are the ruling Congress, TDP, YSR Congress and MIM.

"Kindly make up your mind fast," Chidambaram asked the four parties which are undecided.

"We are urging the parties: kindly complete your process of consultation... then we can call a meeting," he said, appealing to the people of Andhra Pradesh, especially the youth to maintain calm and not to take any extreme step like suicide.

The debate on the calling attention motion saw a divided House including Congress in Andhra Pradesh prompting Chidambaram to remark that he was responding with sadness as it was a "very divisive debate" as he had apprehended.

Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj expressed readiness of the BJP to ensure 2/3 majority to a bill for the formation of Telangana, if the government comes out with a bill.

The home minister said that a delay in the decision was in view of the fact that "situation on the ground" altered after the December 9, 2009 announcement of the Centre on the issue of separate Telangana.