Report Card of Ministry of Home Affairs for December, 2009 -(Home Minister statement)

 The Union Home Minister Shri P. Chidambaram presented the Report Card of the Ministry of Home Affairs for December 2009 here today. Following is the text of the Minister’s statement:-
========================================
The media has broadcast or published millions of words on the Telangana issue which, of course, is the right thing to do on an issue that is topical and of great moment. However, facts are sacred and in order to set the record straight I wish to highlight the following facts.

The National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) of the UPA Government in the previous term contained a paragraph on Telangana which read: “The UPA Government will consider the demand for the formation of a Telangana State at an appropriate time after due consultations and consensus.”

Major political parties in Andhra Pradesh contested the 2009 Assembly elections on manifestos that, in one manner or other, declared support for the formation of a separate State of Telangana. On December 7, 2009 the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh convened a meeting of the floor leaders of the political parties in the State Legislature. All political parties, except the CPI(M), supported the proposal to adopt a resolution in the State Assembly for creation of Telangana. The CPI(M) referred to the stand taken by the party before the Committee headed by Shri Pranab Mukherjee. The MIM observed that the proper forum to express its views was the Legislative Assembly. The minutes of the meeting were received by the Central Government on December 8, 2009.

After considering the minutes, the Central Government decided to initiate the process of forming the State of Telangana. On December 9, 2009, it was announced that ‘an appropriate resolution will be moved’ in the State Assembly. I would like to highlight the key words in that statement: they are ‘process’, ‘appropriate resolution’ and ‘moved’. In the background of the minutes of the all party meeting, I would like to ask, “What was wrong with that statement?”

However, following the announcement, major political parties in Andhra Pradesh witnessed deep divisions among their members, especially MPs and MLAs. It was obvious that the situation had altered. The Government tried its best to bridge the differences. Unfortunately, there was no agreement and it was felt that there was a need to hold further consultations with all political parties and groups in Andhra Pradesh. Hence, another statement was made on behalf of the Central Government on December 23, 2009 emphasizing the need for ‘wide ranging consultations’ and promising to ‘take steps to involve all concerned in the process.”

I do not understand why this was described by the media as a flip-flop. There was no flip-flop on the part of the Central Government. Government was simply responding to the altered situation as a result of divisions in the political parties.

Yesterday, the Central Government decided to convene a meeting of the leaders of the eight recognized political parties in Andhra Pradesh. The meeting is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, January 5, 2010.

(SOURCE - P I B)