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AP ministers want Telangana deadline
Andhra Pradesh ministers from Telangana on Monday ruled out withdrawing their resignations until the Congress spells out a “time frame” for forming a separate state.
Andhra Pradesh ministers from Telangana on Monday ruled out withdrawing their resignations until the Congress spells out a “time frame” for forming a separate state.
“We are committed on our resignations. We want the Centre to clarify the doubts arising from December 23 and spell out a time frame to create Telangana,’’ said Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah after a meeting with Andhra-in-charge Veeerappa Moily.
Information Minister Geeta Reddy also ruled out taking back resignations. “The movement is no longer in the hands of leaders but with the people.’’
On Sunday, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had asked the 13 party ministers to withdraw their resignations amid speculation that the Centre may soon announce a “mechanism’’ to facilitate “wideranging consultations’’ promised in the December 23 statement.
The statement had created fears that the Centre was putting the Telangana issue on the backburner and saw the Congress ministers from the region taking their concern to senior leaders.
“They have understood our concern and the situation in the state. I am confident they will issue a clarification and start
the process of creating Telangana,’’ said Lakshmaiah.
But any “good news” or pro-active move by the Centre is expected only after tempers cool in the state that has been gripped by rallies, protests and demonstrations.
With other parties increasingly taking charge of the pro-Telangana movement, the task before the ministers from the region would be to take the reins of the campaign in their hands. The party’s state leaders will meet in Hyderabad on Tuesday to plan their strategy.
What are the Centre’s options? While sources ruled out a change of guard in the state, it can, besides announcing a mechanism for talks, take four other simultaneous steps, said a leader.
It can get the state to bring the statehood resolution in the assembly and put it to vote; set up a second States
Reorganisation Commission; announce some major projects for Telangana; and try to control the agitation by closing Osmania University for some time.
