NO TELANGANA WITHOUT NORMALCY, REITERATES CHIDAMBARAM

In an indication of some clarity on the Telangana issue, Union home minister P Chidambaram told some political delegations from the region that called on him here on Thursday that there can be no movement forward on the separate state issue until the agitations end and law and order is restored in Andhra Pradesh. This consistent point of view was conveyed by Chidambaram to delegations of Congress from Telangana, Telugu Desam from Andhra, MIM and Telangana PRP when they met him during the day. Peace and normalcy in the state has to be restored immediately. Everything else is secondary as of now, he told the groups. Led by former home minister K Jana Reddy and comprising several Congress leaders including state ministers, MPs, MLAs and senior party leaders, the Congress delegation met Chidambaram to plead for an early start and timebound completion of the Telangana state formation. But Chidambaram is said to have insisted on the restoration of peace and normalcy in the state. A rational decision is not possible in an emotionally charged atmosphere. We will not take any decision until we are sure that a peaceful atmosphere is back in the state, the home minister said. Addressing the media after the meeting, leaders Jana Reddy, Damodar Reddy and Sridhar Babu said the home minister was very particular about the restoration of normalcy in both theregions.

According to sources, Chidambaram advised the Telangana Congress leaders to sort out their differences with their Andhra comrades in an amicable manner. The Congress has to play a key role in the process. Sorting out of differences with the Andhra Congress leaders would propel the process forward quickly, he told the Telangana leaders. Chidambaram also told them he has briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and assured the groups that he would announce the programme in a couple of days. Similar sentiments were conveyed to the TDP delegation led by former union minister K Yerrannaidu and PRP Telangana leader A Maheswar Reddy who met the union home minister in the afternoon.

(SOURCE : TOI)