With the Srikrishna Committee set to submit its report on the contentious issue of statehood for Telangana, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday reviewed the political and security situation in Andhra Pradesh with his senior Cabinet colleagues. The Congress, meanwhile, reiterated that it is not against smaller states.
Information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni, too, met Union home minister P. Chidambaram and discussed the advisory circulated by the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) calling upon news channels to be careful while reporting on the Srikrishna report.
According to sources, Dr Singh was closeted in the meeting with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, defence minister A.K. Antony, home minister P. Chidambaram and law minister M. Veerappa Moily besides senior PMO officials. Though no official word was made available to the media with regard to what exactly transpired at the meeting, sources said Mr Chidambaram briefed his colleagues on the security arrangements made by the home ministry to ensure the situation does not get out of control. Some forces have been kept on standby to meet any contingency.
The meeting is also believed to have deliberated on the likely consequences if statehood is granted. The Union government is doing a tightrope walk over the issue as any pronouncement may lead to misinterpretation and undesirable consequences.
Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed, at his regular press briefing, reiterated his party is not opposed to smaller states and the government would decide on Telangana after receiving the report of the Srikrishna Committee. He said the Congress’ stand is very consistent. “We are not against smaller states. As far as the Telangana issue is concerned, the government had constituted a committee to look into the whole issue, and now that committee is set to submit its report. After seeing the report, the Congress will form an opinion on the issue.”
Meanwhile, Ms Soni met Mr Chidambaram in connection with the advisory released by the NBA. The self-regulatory forum has called upon all members to ensure that telecast of news on Telangana is neither sensational nor provocative. Ms Soni has also requested Mr Chidambaram to appoint a nodal officer in his ministry for dissemination of all news connected to the Srikrishna Committee’s recommendations.
The Srikrishna Committee was constituted by the Union government on February 3, 2010 to look into the competing demands of carving out a separate state of Telangana and keeping the state of Andhra Pradesh united.