Hyderabad: Unable to decide on the Telangana statehood issue, the Central government as well as the Congress leadership on Sunday indefinitely delayed making a final announcement and called for fresh consultations on the issue.
After the meeting of all parties of Andhra Pradesh in December 2012, Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde had announced a one-month deadline, ending on January 28, to issue a statement on the Telangana statehood issue.
However, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad had recently clarified that “a month did not always mean a month” and it might take more time to make a final announcement.
Finally on Sunday, both the Central government and the AICC leadership issued statements saying that it would take some more time for fresh consultations and there would be no time frame to make a final announcement on the issue.
Shinde issues note seeking more time
Talking to media outside his residence on Sunday evening, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the Congress in principle had decided to continue consultations on the issue, especially with Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana and senior leaders from all the three regions of the state.
Shortly after Mr Azad’s statement, Mr Shinde, who is leaving on a three-day trip to Dhaka on Monday, sent a press communique through his ministry stating: “On Telangana issue, consultation process is on. It may take little more time to reach a final decision.”
Reasons for delay according to AICC sources.
1. There was no consensus among the Core Committee members on creation of separate Telangana state.
2. Status of Hyderabad as the capital continues to be critical in all discussions.
3. While political parties either said “Yes” or “No” for bifurcation, all of them put the onus on the Congress and the Centre to take a final decision.
4. A decision either way,  will lead to Congress MLAs and MPs resigning en masse and possibility of collapse of the Congress government in the state.
5. Need to ensure that the Budget sessions of both Parliament and state in the coming three months pass smoothly.
6. Home ministry is yet to come up with a plan to face the situation.
7. Fresh demand for creation of Rayalaseema state was told to the Centre as they could not live with Coastal Andhra people.
8. Division of AP cannot be addressed unless there are political changes before a final announcement.
Next: OU students, cops clash over T-rally

OU students, cops clash over T-rally
Hyderabad: Osmania University witnessed pitched battles between pro-Telangana students and the police at two different gates of the campus on Sunday.
The tension increased when the police stopped pro-Telangana students at the NCC gate as they were taking out a bike rally to Raj Bhavan. Heated arguments started and after a few minutes, the bikers retreated and started pelting stones.
The police retaliated with tear gas to disperse the protesters. A constable was injured in the stoning while some students suffered minor injuries from the tear gas.
The OU students JAC had called for a protest at the Raj Bhavan demanding the resignation of Governor E.S.L. Naras-imhan for allegedly opposing Telangana. While around seven students were arrested near the OU campus, a few students, who tried to march towards Raj Bhavan were taken into custody at Khairatabad, police said.
In order to check the protesters, the police had put up barricades and deployed a large number of cops at all the gates of OU campus this morning. The clashes started at 10 am and continued till late in the evening. “The protesters have not dispersed even at 6 pm,” said Mr M. Venkateswar Rao, the additional DCP of East Zone said.
After 3 pm, the protesters retreated from the NCC gate giving hope to the police, who had been struggling to stop them since morning. However, they went to the gate near the ladies hostel where the police force was less, and started throwing stones. The police drove them away.
Meanwhile, the students alleged police highhandedness. “We were about to take out a peaceful rally, but the police stopped us at the main gate. They used tear gas against us,” said N. Kumar, a student activist.  However, ACP Ranjan Ratan Kumar said the protesters were not given permission to take out the rally.