T-panel this week, says Chidambaram

New Delhi, Feb 1: The Union Minister, Mr P Chidambaram, on Monday did not make any effort to ease the tensions prevailing in Andhra Pradesh on the sensitive separate Telangana issue.Though all the political parties and people’s organisations in Andhra Pradesh were eagerly waiting for Mr P Chidambaram’s  media conference on Monday afternoon, nothing concrete was announced by the Union Minister either on the setting up of a committee or the possible terms of reference of such panel in the event of it being constituted.

His speech did not find any mention on the Telangana issue and Mr Chidambaram replied on the matter only to queries from media persons.“As I have said that the committee will be announced early this week  and we are only in the earliest part of the week,” he said in reply to a question from the media. Asked to clarify whether a mechanism is being worked  out to resolve the Telangana tangle or whether a committee is being formed on the issue, the Home Minister said both are synonymous.

He, however, did not agree with a questioner that the issue is being delayed. “We have said that a committee will be formed this week and there is absolutely no delay in that,” he explained.Asked about the likely terms of reference of the proposed committee, he said that once the panel is formed and terms of reference will be clearly spelt out. “They (terms of reference) can not be kept as a secret,” he added.Agreeing with a questioner that separate Telangana issue is a difficult task, he said “we are at it.” Mr Chidambaram said that there is no major violence in any part of Andhra Pradesh. “There are bandhs in some parts and fasts in other areas. But there is no major violence in any corner,” he said and appealed to the students not to resort to suicides.