JUSTICE SRIKRISHNA TELANGANA REPORT OUT - PARTIES TO STUDY

New Delhi: The Justice Srikrishna report on the formation of a separate Telangana state was placed on Thursday and it is understood the recommendations support a unified Andhra Pradesh while exploring options that could satisfy those who demand a separate state. Among the several suggestions made, the report says, a status quo be maintained now, suggesting the chief minister or the deputy chief minister can be from the Telangana region. The report has given the following options:

* Andhra Pradesh be bifurcated into Seemandhara and Telangana with both developing their own capitals in due course of time.

* Hyderabad can be Telangana capital, while Seemandhra gets another capital.

* Hyderabad can become a Union Territory. It will have geographical linkage and contiguity via Nalgonda district in the southeast to Guntur district in coastal Andhra and via Mahabubnagar district in the south to Kurnool district in Rayalaseema.

* Bifurcation of the state into Rayala-Telangana and coastal Andhra regions. Hyderabad will be an integral part of Rayala-Telangana.

* United Andhra with provision for a Telangana council.
After the report was placed, a meeting began between Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and several Andhra stakeholder parties. This meeting, however, has been boycotted by those who are in favour of a separate state - the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, the Telegu Desam Party and the BJP.

As soon as the report was released, Chidambaram on Thursday appealed to political parties in Andhra Pradesh to read the recommendations of the Justice Srikrishna Committee on Telangana with an "open mind" and to give "impartial consideration" to them. He expressed confidence that the report will generate an "informed and mature" debate on the issue. Handing over copies of the report to leaders of political parties from the state at the meeting here, Chidambaram urged them to give their "most careful, thoughtful and impartial" consideration to the recommendations. He asked them to read the report with an "open mind" and be prepared to persuade or be persuaded by those who hold another point of view.

Chidambaram regretted the boycott of the meeting by TRS, TDP and BJP. Recalling the discussions on January 5 last year, which he said had showed the way forward, Chidambaram said it is the Govt.'s  hope that the discussions on Thursday will also show the way forward. "I am sure that besides political parties, people of Andhra Pradesh, both individuals and groups would also make valuable suggestions that will show the way forward. "You will note that I have repeatedly used the phrase 'way forward'. Today I reiterate the government's intentions to find just, honourable and practicable solutions that has the widest measure of support among all stakeholders," he said.

Referring to the joint appeal made at the January 5 meeting to the people of Andhra Pradesh to maintain peace and calm, Chidambaram said it had a salutary effect. "It is necessary that peace, harmony and law and order should be maintained in the state. I would request you to join me at the end of this meeting to make an appeal similar to the appeal we made last year," he said. The Home Minister said it is natural that the parties will require time to read the report and hold consultations within their organisations.
Asking them to participate in Thursday's meeting, he said if the parties agreed, then he would suggest they meet again at a convenient date later this month.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, Congress leaders K S Rao, Uttam Kumar Reddy, CPI-M state secretary D V Raghavalu and party leader J Ranga Reddy, PRP leader C Ramachandraiah, Akrabdduin Owaisi and Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri of MIM, K Narayana and G Malesh of CPI attended the meeting. TDP MP Kishtappa earlier met Chidambaram and gave a letter from the party, saying they were not attending the meeting since the decision has to be taken by the Centre and not state political parties.

Referring to the boycott, Chidambaram said some parties have chosen not to attend the meeting. "I deeply regret the stand taken by them. It does scant justice to the valuable work done by Justice Srikrishna Committee. Nevertheless, I propose to send a copy of the report to parties who have chosen to stay away," he said.
===============================
(Source: The Indian Express)