Chidambaram hopes of way forward with Telangana report

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday urged all political parties to show respect to the Srikrishna report on Telangana, calling it a document to find a way forward.

?It is Government?s hope that our discussions today will also show the further way forward,? Chidambaram said.

Unveiling the Srikrishna report, which he received on Dec 30, before political parties which attended his meeting here on Thursday, Chidambaram said: ?I am happy to share with each of the eight political parties a copy of the report (in two volumes). I note that some political parties invited to this meeting have chosen not to attend the meeting. I deeply regret the stand taken by them.?

The Bharatiya Janata Party, the main opposition party, the Telangana Rastra Samithi, that spearheads the movement, and the Telugu Desam Party, headed by former AP chief minister Chandrababu Naidu boycotted the meeting of Chidambaram.

PC also said there is need for adequate respect towards the report.

?Nevertheless, I propose to send a copy of the report to the parties that have chosen to stay away. As I speak, the report is being uploaded on the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs and will be available to the public immediately,? the minister said in his opening remarks.

Sharing that the summary that lists the ?Optimum Solutions/Options? suggested by the Justice Srikrishna Committee and their recommendations with the political parties, Chidambaram said: ?I urge you to give your most careful, thoughtful and impartial consideration to the report and the recommendations.

?In particular, I would urge you to read the report and the recommendations with an open mind and be prepared to persuade, and to be persuaded by, people who hold another point of view. It is Government?s sincere hope that the report will generate an informed and mature debate.?

?I am sure that, besides the political parties, the people of Andhra Pradesh ? both individuals and groups ? would also make valuable suggestions that will show the way forward,? he said.

Chidambaram said the Indian government intends to find a ?practical? solution to the Telangana issue.

?You will note that I have repeatedly used the phrase ?way forward?. I do so in order to reiterate Government?s intention to find a just, honourable and practicable solution that has the widest measure of support among all stakeholders,? he said.

?It is natural that you will require some time to read the report and hold consultations within your party. Hence, if all of you agree, I suggest that we meet again on a convenient date later this month,? Chidambaram told the political parties attending the meeting.

The Srikrishna Committee that studied the feasibility of a separate Telangana state apparently favours a united Andhra Pradesh but puts the ball in the court of the Centre by suggesting six options, including bifurcation of the state with Union Territory status to Hyderabad.

Telangana Rastra Samithi, which is spearheading the campaign for a separate state, said nothing short of a separate Telangana with Hyderabad as capital is acceptable to them.

Though seemingly leading towards a united Andhra Pradesh, the committee lists about six options including option A as United Andhra and Option B as bifurcation into Telangana and Seemaandhra with Hyderabad as Union Territory.

It also suggests maintenance of the status quo but give constitutional guarantee that Chief Minister or Deputy CM of the state would be from Telangana region.

The committee opined that for internal security and economic development maintaining status quo is a good option.

The Srikrishna committee held consultations over the last 11 months on demands for a separate state of Telangana carving out of Andhra Pradesh.

The panel, appointed by the Centre on Feb 3 last year, submitted an 800-page two-volume report to Chidambaram on Dec 30.

But any new formation would definitely open a Pandora’s box, as India is experiencing separate statehood demands from many regions, including in the east.

The most vocal demand emanates from the hills of Darjeeling in West Bengal for a Gorkhaland.

The six options by Srikrishna Committee:

1) United Andhra Pradesh with status quo. Making either the Chief Minister or the Deputy Chief Minister from Telangana.

2) Bifurcation into Seemandhra and Telangana with Hyderabad as a union territory.

3) Bifurcation into Rayaltelangana and coastal Andhra with Hyderabad going with Rayaltelangana.

4) Bifurcation into Telangana and Seemandhra with an enlarged Hyderabad to become a union territory.

5) Bifurcation of Seemandhra and Telangana as per existing boundary with Hyderabad becoming the capital of Telangana. Seemandhra to have separate capital.

6) Creation of statutory empowered Telangana Regional Council.