Stop Telangana process: Seemandhra leaders to CM

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Hyderabad: The Seemandhra leaders including ministers made it clear that they were committed to the resolution that they adopted on August 3 on keeping the State united. As many as 14 ministers, 37 MLAs and 11 MLCs from the Seemandhra region participated in the meeting held at the Ministers' Quarters on Thursday morning.Talking to reporters later, State Minister and Seemandhra Legislators Forum convener S Sailajanath said that the meeting discussed the possible presentation of Telangana Note during Union Cabinet's meeting scheduled to be held at 5 pm on Thursday.He said that the Seemandhra Congress leaders were firm on their stand on the division of Andhra Pradesh and that the process of Telangana formation should be stopped. Sailajanath said that it has been decided to defeat the Telangana Resolution in the State Legislative Assembly. They have also decided to pressurise Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to use his influence to stop State's bifurcation.Later, a delegation of ministers called on the Chief Minister to brief him about three resolutions passed during the meeting.Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Thursday informed that the Cabinet Note on Telangana was ready, but yet to be signed.Shinde said that the high-power AK Antony Committee was yet to submit its report. Therefore, it has not been decided whether or not to circulate the note during the cabinet meeting.However, AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh claimed that Telangana Note would go to the cabinet. Sources say that since Telangana Note is not on cabinet meeting's agenda, it may be placed as a table item, which is taken up by the cabinet on the spot after it is flagged as important by a minister or ministers.Once the Telangana Note gets Union Cabinet's approve, the Centre will constitute a Group of Ministers to look into the entire gamut of issues that will arise out of bifurcation including sharing of resources.The Cabinet, after giving its approval to the creation of a separate Telangana state, is expected to set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) to go threadbare into the issues arising out of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. That is likely to be followed by a resolution being sent to Andhra Pradesh Assembly regarding the formation of the new state. After formation, Telangana will be the 29th state of India.The CWC, which met on July 30, passed a resolution requesting the Centre "to take steps in accordance with the Constitution to form a separate state of Telangana... within a definite timeframe".There have been continuing protests in the non-Telangana parts of Andhra Pradesh against the decision to carve out the new state. The Monsoon Session of Parliament also witnessed strong protests by Congress and TDP MPs from the Seemandhra region against any move to divide Andhra Pradesh.While returning from his US tour, the Prime Minister on Tuesday said the issue of forming Telangana is high on his priority and he will soon enquire about the status of its implementation."It is getting recurring attention in the government. When I go back, I will ask the Home Minister what is the status. This is high on my mind," he said.