Home Secretary calls meet with Andhra DGP, Chief Secy; Telangana decision likely soon

Hyderabad: Union Home Secretary RK Singh has called the Andhra Pradesh DGP and the Chief Secretary for a meeting at 2 pm on Thursday at the Home Ministry. The meeting comes amidst speculation that the government is set to make an announcement on the Telangana statehood.

Earlier in December 2012, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had said that the government would make an announcement on Telangana by January 28. The Congress is likely to discuss the issue at its Chintan Baithak starting in Jaipur on Friday.

An all-party meeting was held in December to discuss the issue. Eight parties attended the meet: The Congress, BJP, Telugu Desam Party, Telangana Rashtra Samithi, YSR Congress, CPI, CPI (M) and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).

The Home Minister had earlier said that the government would make an announcement on Telangana by January 28.

Following the all-party meeting on the issue, Shinde had urged people to maintain calm over the matter. "I appeal the youth of Andhra Pradesh to maintain peace. The government will take a decision on this and whatever will happen will be good," he had said.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) was unhappy with the outcome of the meeting and held protests. TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao had alleged that the Congress was continuing its "drama" over Telangana. "They have said this hundred times during last three years," he had said on Shinde's statement.

The Telugu people, not just those living in Andhra Pradesh, but all across the world, are awaiting a final and clear response from the Centre over the issue. The Congress high command has been for long grappling with problems in Andhra Pradesh - the only major state, where it is in power on its own.

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