T state far away - No Solution Possible Without Consensus : Azad

Hyderabad: Contradicting all the theories of T-talks and early decision on separate state,AICC general secretary and Union minister of health and family welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad made it clear on Friday that a decision favouring Telangana was not possible in the near future.It is not an easy task, Azad said in his brief stop-over here on his way back to Delhi from Chennai where he attended the meeting of health ministers of southern states.During his five-hour stay in Hyderabad,Azad launched a health mela at the Exhibition Grounds.Later,Azad paid an unusual visit to the city Congress office and addressed the party leaders where the only talking point was Telangana. This time, Azad was extremely bold.So far,no decision has been taken on Telangana, he said. Azad was one of the key figures whom K Chandrasekhar Rao met during his month-long stay in Delhi last month.Claiming that he had consulted all top leaders of Congress party,Rao said a decision on Telangana is expected soon and only a final meeting is pending. However,Azad told the Congress leaders that a decision on Telangana was not as easy as the formation of Chhattisgarh,Uttaranchal and Jharkhand. Telangana is a complex issue.Consensus has been elusive even though we have been talking to leaders of all the regions for the past two years, Azad said,flanked of many senior leaders including PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana,Danam Nagender and V Hanumantha Rao. When asked about the consultations with TRS leader Chandrasekhar Rao,Azad said apart from Rao,the consultation were going with several others leaders.We are talking to the leaders from Telangana,Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra.They are expressing their own views.As a result,we are not able to arrive at a consensus.The talks will go on till a consensus is reached, he said,adding that the separate state could not be formed without consensus. Hanumantha Rao disputed Azads comparision of Telangana with Jharkhand,Uttaranchal and Chhattisgarh.They were carved out of three states -- UP,Bihar and MP.This is not the case with Telangana.Telangana was earlier an entity called Hyderabad state with a separate chief minister until it was clubbed with Andhra to form Andhra Pradesh in 1956, Rao said. The Rajya Sabha member said that the people of the region were demanding the restoration of status quo anti of 1956.Regarding the other comments of Azad,Rao brushed it aside stating there was nothing new in Azads comments. (Source-toi)