Congress meet today to decide Telangana future
Party says decision can’t be delayed but keeps options open
HYDERABAD/NEW DELHI: Making a strong move, the Congress core committee is meeting on Friday to finally decide on the crucial Telangana issue. The meeting comes after a series of consultations at various levels over past several years. During this period, the state has often witnessed long spells of violent protests leading to loss of many lives.
A top Congress strategist told HT, “We have to pick between two options. To accede to the demand for a separate Telangana state or to grant a special eco- nomic package mixed with doses of autonomy for the region.”
Congress in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, Digvijaya Singh told reporters in New Delhi that a decision “cannot be postponed anymore” but added that “both options are open”.
Singh has submitted a report to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi — also slated to join the core committee meeting — on the demand for Telangana. Top sources said the report refrains from making any particular suggestion but identifies the possible fallout such as deterioration in the law and order situation or boost to Maoist extremism in many parts of the region
Several deadlines committed by the government and the party in power were missed in the past. Even the Justice Srikrishna Committee could not decide either way and presented six options before the centre, though supporting a united state as the best one.
While some analysts and leaders of TRS termed the meet as another of Congress’ dillydallying tactics, Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, deputy CM Damodara Rajanarasimha and PCC Chief Botsa Satyanarayana, who were asked by the highcommand to attend the meet with road maps for a decision in favour or against a separation, are anxious.
“Whatever the decision of the high command is, all the leaders should respect it,” Satyanarayana told HT.