Appealing to Legislators from Telangana to be patient and allow the consultation process on the statehood demand to continue, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram made it clear that a final decision on the ‘extremely sensitive and complex’ issue has not yet been taken by the Centre.
Mr Chidambaram’s appeal to the Legislators was made before media persons here, even as the spate of resignations continued to stream in, at the Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly and in Parliament. “Consensus is yet to emerge on the sensitive issue. Two parties are yet to take a decision on the separate statehood demand. The issue can be solved only through consultation process and consensus can emerge only through dialogue,” the Union Home Minister stated. Mr Chidambaram, appealing to Telangana Legislators to be patient, said that the MPs, MLAs and MLCs have expressed the strong people feelings through their resignations. “The Centre’s view will be made known after the consultation process is over. We have to bring everyone on board. There is a strong view of large number of people. We are yet to take a final decision,” the Union Home Minister said. Mr Chidambaram added that, “This is an extremely sensitive and complex issue. One should have understanding and patience. Especially, the media should have understanding and patience.” The Union Home Minister also pointed out that the statement made by him on December 9, 2009, in which the Centre said that it would initiate the process for the formation of a separate Telangana state, was not made on a personal level but was made on behalf of the Government of India.” He however hinted that his subsequent statement, made on December 23, 2009, was not taken into consideration by the separate statehood protagonists. “The Centre had emphasized that more consultations are needed to resolve the Telangana issue in the statement made December 23, 2009. Whenever you refer to the December 9, 2009 statement, kindly refer to the December 23, 2009 statement too,” Mr Chidambaram said in reply to a specific question. He added that the Congress In-Charge of Andhra Pradesh Affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad will look into the resignations submitted by the Legislators and would begin consultations to persuade them to rethink. When asked to specify if the second all-party conclave on the issue would be held, Mr Chidambaram said that two parties are yet to make their views clear on the issue. “The second all-party conclave would be called as soon as the views of all parties are known,” he said.