Srikrishna says PChidambaram wrong

Justice Srikrishna Panel which is currently compiling opinions of people, politicians and intellectuals in Andhra Pradesh  has indicated on Friday that the onus of state bifurcation rests entirely with New Delhi.

Reacting to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's reported remark that Andhra Pradesh Assembly would deal with the impugned State bifurcation issue, Justice Srikrishna told newsmen on Friday that the State legislature has absolutely no role to play in the issue.''In fact, it is the Parliament, which has to introduce a Bill on bifurcation of the State, depending on the kind of report the panel submits.

 So far, the panel has collected 1,30,000 submissions, suggestions and reports from political parties and individuals supporting and opposing the Telangana statehood. However, after compiling the documents, which may be stored for the posterity, the Committee may call for a few intellectuals and persons to meet the panel and elicit their opinions on the issue.

Justice Srikrishna also observed that the panel would visit the state on May 10 and 11 and meet a chosen few persons at the Lake View Guest House here and collect their opinions and hold another session at the Institute of Human Resource Development in Hyderabad on May 12.

The committee members are on a two-day visit to city to interact with various groups on the separate a state issue.

Justice Srikrishna said they would hold talks with Telugu Desam Party, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and Indian Union Muslim League on May 10 and May 12 and with Congress party on May 17 and 18.

The committee members will also go to the districts across the state in the month of July. The TDP will send three teams representing Telangana, coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, said member-secretary V K Duggal.

Consultations with the political parties and other organisations will be completed by the end of June, Srikrishna said.