Srikrishna Committee puts ball in Centre’s court

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.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram sought consensus on the issue after unveiling the Srikrishna committee report, which he received on Dec 30, before the political parties which attended his meeting on Thursday. Major parties boycotted it.

Chidambaram said the government would try to implement the best possible option and asked the parties to read the report carefully.

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 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.

Ahead of the New Delhi’s meeting in Andhra Pradesh elaborate security arrangements have been in all the three regions – coastal Andhra, Telangana and Rayalaseema.

About 5,000 CRPF, BSF and CISF personnel have been posted in the state, with close to 2,000 only in the state capital.

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.