New Delhi:
The Centre still seems to be struggling to finalise its strategy to solve the Telangana statehood crisis that has crippled normal life in the region for almost a month now. Several rounds of political consultations were held between the state and central leaders yesterday and some more are scheduled for today.
Yesterday, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the main troubleshooter of the UPA government, met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and union ministers from the state in Delhi and heard their views on the issue. The meeting was also attended by his Cabinet colleagues AK Antony, P Chidambaram and Ghulam Nabi Azad.
After several rounds of discussions with party leaders from Andhra Pradesh, Mr Mukherjee said on Saturday night, "The consultation process within the Congress is still going on. I think we will be able to complete the process by Monday." He, however, refused to set any deadline for the resolution of the matter.
Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan was also in Delhi yesterday. He met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram separately and is understood to have briefed them about the situation in the agitation-hit region. He however rubbished reports that the state is heading towards President's Rule. "There is a popularly-elected government and it will function," he said. Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is Congress' Andhra Pradesh in-charge, and Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy also rejected the possibility of President's Rule.
Grappling with the pro-Telangana agitation, Mr Reddy rushed to the capital yesterday along with his deputy Damodar Rajanarasimha. After day-long meetings, he said the Centre would soon resolve the statehood issue in an "amicable" manner that would "satisfy the aspirations of the people".
"I have given my opinion. I said the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh should be satisfied. Soon there would be an amicable solution that would be beneficial to the people of the state," he told reporters. The Chief Minister and his Deputy left Delhi for Hyderabad this morning.
Andhra Pradesh has been crippled by the indefinite strike for nearly a month now. Road and rail transport, electricity supply and offices have all been hit by the agitation.
Congress MPs from Telangana have also threatened to join the agitation and go on an indefinite fast. They have said that if the Governor gives adverse report on Telangana, they will write to the President asking for his recall. (With PTI Inputs)
Yesterday, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the main troubleshooter of the UPA government, met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and union ministers from the state in Delhi and heard their views on the issue. The meeting was also attended by his Cabinet colleagues AK Antony, P Chidambaram and Ghulam Nabi Azad.
After several rounds of discussions with party leaders from Andhra Pradesh, Mr Mukherjee said on Saturday night, "The consultation process within the Congress is still going on. I think we will be able to complete the process by Monday." He, however, refused to set any deadline for the resolution of the matter.
Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan was also in Delhi yesterday. He met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram separately and is understood to have briefed them about the situation in the agitation-hit region. He however rubbished reports that the state is heading towards President's Rule. "There is a popularly-elected government and it will function," he said. Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is Congress' Andhra Pradesh in-charge, and Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy also rejected the possibility of President's Rule.
Grappling with the pro-Telangana agitation, Mr Reddy rushed to the capital yesterday along with his deputy Damodar Rajanarasimha. After day-long meetings, he said the Centre would soon resolve the statehood issue in an "amicable" manner that would "satisfy the aspirations of the people".
"I have given my opinion. I said the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh should be satisfied. Soon there would be an amicable solution that would be beneficial to the people of the state," he told reporters. The Chief Minister and his Deputy left Delhi for Hyderabad this morning.
Andhra Pradesh has been crippled by the indefinite strike for nearly a month now. Road and rail transport, electricity supply and offices have all been hit by the agitation.
Congress MPs from Telangana have also threatened to join the agitation and go on an indefinite fast. They have said that if the Governor gives adverse report on Telangana, they will write to the President asking for his recall. (With PTI Inputs)
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