Telangana: AP parties appeal for maintaining peace

Representatives of political parties of Andhra Pradesh, who attended a meeting convened by the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram here on Thursday on Telangana, have appealed for maintaining peace, harmony and law and order in the state.

In a statement issued at the end of the meeting, they said that they would meet again later this month.

The report of the Srikrishna Committee was made public by Chidambaram on Thursday.

In the 461-page report, the Committee has put forward several solutions/possible options.

The Committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Justice (Retd) B.N. Srikrishna to hold consultations with all sections of the people and all political parties and groups in Andhra Pradesh.

The report was submitted to the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on 30 December.

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

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 (read United Andhra) 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 from political parties on the issue after unveiling the report.