Congress core committee meets

We are drawing up plans to call for an IT bandh soon, the sources added.
Meanwhile,the impasse over the demand for a separate state continued for the 25th day on Friday with government employees abstaining from duty and 90% of the RTC buses remaining confined to their respective depots.Reports from districts said students,teachers,advocates and employees took hundreds of rallies and held demonstrations across all Telangana districts,barring Hyderabad and parts of Ranga Reddy.

Governor ESL Narasimhans arrival in New Delhi fuelled speculations that Centre is toying with an idea of imposing Presidents Rule as one of options to rein in the situation. However,chief minister Kiran Kumars aides,as well as Congress leaders like Chiranjeevi who is in Delhi, displayed confidence that such an eventuality is unlikely.But AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad made it clear in New Delhi on Friday evening that there is no question of the UPA government giving in to striking Telangana employees and groups.

After a mini Congress core committee meeting at Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjees residence,Azad told the media that the talks were inconclusive and that they needed to meet again on Saturday,clearly stating the partys line that wider and extensive consultations are needed even before it can take a decision on the contentious issue.Apart from Pranab and Azad,the meeting was attended by senior ministers P Chidambaram,A K Antony and Sonias political secretary Ahmed Patel. And in view of the stalemate,Pranabs scheduled visit to Hyderabad on Saturday is off for the time being,AICC sources said.
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(Source-TOI)