Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Monday said that the government is keen to take a “quick” decision on the demand for a separate Telangana state but refused to give any timeframe.
“It is not a closed chapter. We are discussing it. The issue is open. The issue is open because we have to do this way or that way,” he said at a press conference.
Mr Shinde was replying to questions on whether the issue was a closed chapter for the government as there was no visible forward movement on it. Mr Shinde had indicated in December end last year that a final decision will be taken by the government within a month. However, no decision came through in January.
When specifically asked if the government can give a timeframe on when a final decision can be expected, Mr Shinde refused the give any deadline. “There is no limit on it,” he said on Monday. “We are also interested to take a quick decision,” he added. A decision on the Telangana statehood demand was deferred on January 27 with the Centre and Congress saying there was need for “further consultations” which will take a “little more time” even as pro-Telangana activists intensified their agitation.
It may be recalled that on the eve of the one-month deadline set by Mr Shinde to arrive at a decision, the home minister and the Congress adopted a similar stance saying that more time is needed.
Meanwhile, Congress general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad said that “further consultations” with leaders from Andhra Pradesh were required.
On December 28, Mr Shinde had said the Centre would announce a decision on the contentious issue in a month.