DS in Delhi to meet Sonia on Telangana issue

Hyderabad, Dec 8: With the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh facing growing heat on the demand for a separate Telangana state, the party's state chief D Srinivas arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday to meet president Sonia Gandhi to discuss a way out of the impasse.On reaching Delhi, Srinivas said the Congress was not against the demand for Telangana, "but it is a sensitive issue"."The issue of Telangana is placed  before the high command, and it is for the high command to respond" he told reporters in New Delhi.

The issue has gained momentum with unrest in Andhra Pradesh mounting as Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhara Rao's fast-unto-death entered its 10th day on Tuesday.At the moment Sonia is in Jharkhand to campaign for the assembly elections -- the third round is being held on Tuesday.Srinivas said he had sought a meeting with the Congress president.According to the party sources there was divergence of views in the state unit on the issue of statehood with leaders from Telangana supporting it but those from other parts of the state not inclined towards the demand.

Following intensification of agitation in support of Telangana statehood, Sonia on Monday consulted senior colleagues, including Home Minister P Chidambaram, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A K Antony.The Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded that the government bring a bill or resolution on the issue.M Venkaiah Naidu, the  BJP leader  said on Tuesday, "The prime minister should at least make a statement in parliament clearing the government's stand,""To my knowledge, no party is opposed to Telangana statehood. Why is the Congress delaying a decision, "  Venkaiah Naidu observed.According  to a  senior Congress leader the government could convene an all-party meeting in New Delhi to find a way to deal with the demand for statehood.