This Article is From Feb 24, 2010

Telangana panel arrives in Hyderabad for consultations

Telangana panel arrives in Hyderabad for consultations
Hyderabad: The Srikrishna Committee on Telangana issue has said it would wrap up consultations with key stakeholders by July this year and asked the Joint Action Council (JAC), spearheading the agitation for a separate state, not to boycott it.

V K Duggal, member-secretary of the five-member Committee, who arrived here last night to put in place the necessary infrastructure for starting its work, said, "We will get enough material to give a balanced report".

Faced with JAC's decision to boycott the Committee in protest against its Terms of Reference (ToR), Duggal hoped that responses would be forthcoming once the intent of the panel is understood.

"The proof of the pudding is in its eating. I am 100 per cent sure that when the people see the intention, even those who are boycotting...Once they see the purpose, I have no doubt we will get enough material to give a balanced report,"
he said.

Asked how the Committee would take the views of those who are boycotting, Duggal said, "The voices will be counted as good response has already come.

"We have received 50 memoranda so far since February 20 when the public notice was issued. It is your option. I cannot force you. Once the intent of the Committee is known, the responses will be forthcoming," he said.

A fresh public notice could also be issued, with the approval of the Chairman of the Committee, Justice B N Srikrishna, for seeking responses, he said.

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