Stop bandhs in Andhra Pradesh: Chidambaram

New Delhi: Emerging from a meeting he had called to try and solve the Telangana tangle, Home Minister P Chidambaram admitted it was clear that political parties were divided on the issue.

The Home Minister, who will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to brief him on the meeting, said a further course of action would be formulated after that discussion and talks with senior members of the government.

Chidambaram, who had invited all eight recognized political parties from the state to sit across and discuss the formation of a separate Telangana state, began the meeting with a firm message. No more bandhs and agitations in Andhra Pradesh, he said in his opening statement. (Read: Full text of opening statement)

Chidambaram said, "Law and order must be maintained. Children must go to schools and colleges. People must be allowed to carry on their normal day-to-day activities. Government must be able to focus on development and the welfare of the people. It is in the interest of all sections of the people of Andhra Pradesh that peace and harmony prevail while the consultations take place."

He urged the parties of Andhra Pradesh to show accommodation and goodwill and help the Centre find a solution. Requesting all of them to work together to solve the tangle, he hinted at the Maoist threat in the state when he said: "I wish to caution all political parties that there are forces waiting in the wings who ridicule parliamentary form of democracy and who would be happy if we collectively fail to find answers to the issues that concern us and we should not give any room for these forces to gain strength or credence."

It was a misconception that the Central Government had acted in haste on the Telangana issue, or that political parties were not consulted, he said.

Also that it was "a misconception that I, as Home Minister, acted as an individual."

But even as the meeting was held in Delhi, protesters on both sides of the divide decided to block road and rail traffic across Andhra Pradesh today. The 88 trains have been cancelled as authorities fear protestors may try to stop trains.

Schools, colleges, banks, ATMs, hotels, theatres, shops and offices will remain closed for the second day today.

For more than a month, there have been violent protests virtually every day. In early December, Chidambaram announced that a new state had been sanctioned by the Centre. A gigantic backlash erupted within hours, with more than a 100 MLAS from non-Telangana regions resigning in protest. The biggest surprise came from parties like Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) which had earlier committed their support to a Telangana state but quickly reversed their decision.

At the meeting on Tuesday, Chidamabaram refuted charge that the Centre had acted in haste on Telangana issue, and that political parties were not consulted.