Seemandhra Congress leaders meet Manmohan

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was said to have, on Tuesday, counselled the Congress State Ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs and ex-MLCs from Seemandhra regions, who are opposing bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, to have patience till the Centre decided on the vexatious Telangana issue.

He promised to convey the sentiments expressed by the leaders, who met him here, to Congress general secretary in charge of Andhra Pradesh and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad as the latter had been holding parleys with both the groups to sort out the issue.

Andhra Pradesh Primary Education Minister S. Sailajanath, who was part of the large delegation that met Dr. Singh told journalists: “Dr. Singh heard us and asked us to remain patient. As disciplined Congress workers, he said, everyone should wait [for a decision to be taken]. He promised to convey our sentiments to Mr. Azad.”

Eluru Congress Member of Parliament K.S. Rao said the Telangana demand was being raised by “disgruntled politicians” and the Seemandhra leaders had clearly told the Prime Minister about the designs of the leaders of Telangana.

Later, the Seemandhra leaders called on senior Congress leaders and Union Ministers Pranab Mukherjee (Finance), A.K. Antony (Defence) and P. Chidambaram (Home) and stressed that the sixth option suggested by Justice B.N. Srikrishna Committee – Andhra Pradesh could remain an integrated State by giving more powers to the Telangana region for its socio-economic development and setting up of a regional council – should be implemented by the Centre. Under no circumstance, the Centre should take any decision on carving out Telangana which would disintegrate Andhra Pradesh and weaken it.

Azad's clarification

Meanwhile, following the clarification issued by Mr. Azad that his statement on Telangana made in Beijing a few days ago, had been misinterpreted by the media, the Telangana Congress leaders agreed to hold talks with the Minister and they are expected to be in Delhi on Thursday.

Peddapally Congress MP (Telangana region) G. Vivekanand said since Mr. Azad had clarified on his controversial remarks the Telangana leaders would meet him in Delhi and press for the immediate tabling of the Bill for creation of a separate State. He was confident that the Telangana would be formed in the near future.

Union Panchayati Raj Minister and coastal Andhra Member of Parliament V. Kishore Chandra Deo said the Congress would not act under pressure on the Telangana demand.

‘This is not the way'

Referring to the resignation of Congress MLAs and MPs from the Telangana region, he told journalists: “This is not the way. You don't get a separate State like this. I don't think the party is going to act under pressure.”

Mr. Deo said though he did not have a personal opinion on Telangana, the Congress central leadership would look into the matter.

Bound by party decision

“I will go by what the party decides. We are bound by what the party will decide. The nation cannot run like this, if people from different areas keep making demands for separate States,” he said.