Be patient, Chidambaram tells AP
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New Delhi: The UPA government on Saturday counselled patience to the agitating members of Andhra Pradesh who created an uproar in the Rajya sabha to know what plan of action the Centre had in mind to deal with the law and order situation arising out of the 24-hour bandh call given by the pro-unified state groups.
The Centre, however, ruled out imposing President’s rule in the state and re-affirmed its commitment to the creation of Telangana and rejected the possibility of considering immediately demands for creation of new states.
Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha on Andhra Pradesh, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram said, “I can understand the concern of members from the state on the situation in Andhra Pradesh especially with regard to the bandh.” He added, “Government has listened carefully to the members from the state of Andhra Pradesh. They have expressed concern over the situation in Hyderabad. We have taken note of it. We are in touch with government of Andhra Pradesh. We will take all steps possible to maintain law and order, especially in Hyderabad. Be patient.”
Earlier, TDP members attacked the Kiran Kumar Reddy government by saying there was no government in Andhra Pradesh. Congress members too wanted to speak on the issue but were disallowed by Deputy Chairman P J Kurien. They were also dissuaded by their senior colleagues who requested them not to raise the issue.
Later, addressing a press conference here Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said, “There is no question of President's rule in Andhra Pradesh.”
Emphasising that his ministry is in the process of preparing a note on Telangana to be presented before the cabinet he said, “The Congress Working Committee had taken a decision on Telangana and asked the government to prepare a resolution. One process has been completed. Now, it has come to the government and the second stage has started. It will come soon.”
On the issue making Hyderabad a Union Territory, the Home Minister said there are two-three options being considered by the government but he refused to say what they were.
Responding to a question on demand for new states he said, “Many states are requesting separation... In Maharashtra there is (the demand for) Vidarbha, in West Bengal, there is a call for a separate Darjeeling and Gorkhaland, in Uttar Pradesh, there is a (demand for) four states.” He further said, “There have been demands... (but) they cannot be considered immediately. As and when it is needed, we will consider (them).”
Demands for separate states range from Kukiland in Manipur to Kongu Nadu in Tamil Nadu and for Kamtapur in North Bengal to Tulu Nadu in Karnataka.
But for Uttar Pradesh, no other state government has recommended carving out a new state. The demands in UP call for the state to be divided into Awadh Pradesh, Poorvanchal, Bundelkhand and Pachimanchal or Harit Pradesh
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