HM seeks more time as Azad submits T report to Sonia

The Centre is not likely to come out with an immediate solution on the issue of separate Telangana. Eighteen days after the Sakala Janula Samme or the general strike began and crippled the region, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram came out with a routine statement saying the issue would be 'resolved soon'.

Addressing a press conference at Shastri Bhavan here on Friday, Chidambaram said that four political parties including the Congress have not yet clarified their stand on separate Telangana. "TDP and MIM are waiting to see what Congress party's decision will be. The other party the YSR Congress has not indicated its mind either," he said.

Chidambaram announced that the Congress party and the UPA government will soon announce its stand on Telangana. However, he claimed that one important stage of consultation on the issue is over. He also hinted that all party meeting would be called soon to discuss the issue, but only after Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad submits his report.

The Home Minister also appealed to the pro-Telangana group to call of the general strike as it was causing lot of inconvenience to the common man. He insisted that no political party should support the indefinite bandh which has been crippling the normal life in the region. He said the bandh would affect the State's economy and consequently increase the burden on common man. He said the agitation has forced the Centre to discuss the issue and therefore, it must be called off now.

Meanwhile, a few hours before the meeting of Congress Working Committee, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad submitted the much-awaited report on the Telangana crisis to Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday. Azad has prepared the report after holding discussions with the several leaders from both Telangana and Seemandhra. Azad had also promised that he would consider the views of people both the regions.

However, it was not known as to what exactly Azad has recommended regarding Telangana. Based on the same report, the Congress party is likely to announce its stand on the issue of Andhra Pradesh bifurcation.