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This Article is From Dec 30, 2010

Telangana: Srikrishna Committee's report expected today

Telangana: Srikrishna Committee's report expected today
New Delhi: The five-member Justice Srikrishna Committee, which went into the demand for Telangana state, is expected to submit its report to Home Minister P Chidambaram today, a day before the term of the committee expires.

The five-member committee, which was constituted on February 3, met for over two hours today to finalise the contents of the much-awaited report.

The issue of whether a separate state of Telangana should be sanctioned has been a divisive and emotive debate in Andhra Pradesh. Over the last year, there have been massive and violent protests by supporters and opponents of a Telangana state.

On Tuesday, the Srikrishna Committee, which has prepared the report by visiting all 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh, said it hopes it has found "a permanent solution" but stressed that it is upto the government and political parties to decide what happens next. The committee of five members was set up in February last year and is headed by former Supreme Court judge, BN Srikrishna. The panel's job was to interview different political parties and sections of society on a Telangana state. The committee says it has tried to deliver "highest satisfaction of the largest number." (Read: Telangana report to give 'several options')

Ahead of the report's submission, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday reviewed the political and security situation in the state with his senior cabinet colleagues.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister AK Antony, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Law Minister M Veerappa Moily besides senior government officials.

The Centre has already sent security forces to help maintain law and order in Andhra Pradesh. The state government, meanwhile, under pressure from its own MPs, has dropped 1600 cases filed against student protestors who demonstrated either in favour of or against separate statehood.

Last December, Home Minister P Chidambaram said a Telangana state would be sanctioned. However, political parties from Andhra Pradesh, under severe pressure from those members who were not from Telangana, quickly withdrew their support for the bifurcation of the state. The Centre was then forced to withdraw its decision and announce that the Srikrishna Committee would be assigned to collect political opinions. (With PTI inputs)

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