New Delhi:
Home Minister P Chidambaram announced on Thursday that a committee on Telangana would be formed in a week.
"We are sticking to our word. We will have the names more or less finalised by the end of this week and perhaps by early next week, you will have the committee announced," Chidambaram said.
The political representatives from Telangana had set January 28 as the deadline for the Centre to announce a timeframe for the formation of the new state. And they had threatened to resign enmasse in case Centre failed to keep its promise. The Centre's latest move comes as if to pre-empt the mass resignations.
Congress representatives from Telangana claim the announcement is a definite move forward but the other members of the political Joint Action Committee (JAC) are far from impressed.
"Today's statement is not at all to our satisfaction. We expected a statement that would clearly indicate a timeframe for formation of Telangana. On 29th, the people's representatives should submit their resignations and declare non-cooperation. That programme stands," said Professor Kodandaram, Convenor, Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC).
Chidambaram, in the meeting with political parties from Andhra Pradesh on January 5, had said that its agenda was to "deliberate on the mechanism and lay down a road map for consultations" on the Telangana issue.
The meeting followed Chidambaram's statement on December 23, 2009 when the government put on back burner the formation of the separate state for which it had on December 9, 2009 promised to initiate the process.
On law and order situation in Andhra Pradesh, the Home Minister said much of the agitation has cooled down while there are some protests here and there.
"My greatest regret is that a couple of students reportedly committed suicide. That, I think, should have been completely avoided. Why should children commit suicide. Parents, teachers have responsibility to stop this. But keeping that apart, by and large, things are peaceful there. There is no major law and order violation. We are sticking to our words," he said.
"We are sticking to our word. We will have the names more or less finalised by the end of this week and perhaps by early next week, you will have the committee announced," Chidambaram said.
The political representatives from Telangana had set January 28 as the deadline for the Centre to announce a timeframe for the formation of the new state. And they had threatened to resign enmasse in case Centre failed to keep its promise. The Centre's latest move comes as if to pre-empt the mass resignations.
Congress representatives from Telangana claim the announcement is a definite move forward but the other members of the political Joint Action Committee (JAC) are far from impressed.
"Today's statement is not at all to our satisfaction. We expected a statement that would clearly indicate a timeframe for formation of Telangana. On 29th, the people's representatives should submit their resignations and declare non-cooperation. That programme stands," said Professor Kodandaram, Convenor, Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC).
Chidambaram, in the meeting with political parties from Andhra Pradesh on January 5, had said that its agenda was to "deliberate on the mechanism and lay down a road map for consultations" on the Telangana issue.
The meeting followed Chidambaram's statement on December 23, 2009 when the government put on back burner the formation of the separate state for which it had on December 9, 2009 promised to initiate the process.
On law and order situation in Andhra Pradesh, the Home Minister said much of the agitation has cooled down while there are some protests here and there.
"My greatest regret is that a couple of students reportedly committed suicide. That, I think, should have been completely avoided. Why should children commit suicide. Parents, teachers have responsibility to stop this. But keeping that apart, by and large, things are peaceful there. There is no major law and order violation. We are sticking to our words," he said.
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