Telangana panel report public Jan. 6

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Srikrishna Committee chairman B.N. Srikrishna (right) and committee member V.K. Duggal. PHOTO: Biplab Banerjee

The much-awaited Justice B.N. Srikrishna Committee report on Telangana was submitted on Thursday to Union home minister P. Chidambaram, who immediately declared that the government would consult all political parties before coming to a conclusion on the issue. The members of the Srikrishna Committee said they have given the way forward. The committee on Tuesday had said the report would bring the “maximum satisfaction to the largest number of people”.

Government sources were quick to deny speculation that there is a move to constitute a second States Reorganisation Committee for the simple reason that it is not a politically viable option as its release could coincide with the 2014 general elections.
The report, prepared after extensive touring of Andhra Pradesh by the committee members and interactions with a cross-section of people across the political spectrum and the common folk at large, is in two volumes.
Mr Chidambaram, on receiving the report, said he intends to convene a meeting of the eight recognised political parties on January 6, 2011. He added, “Immediately after the meeting, the report would be made public.” Even as he thanked the media for its cooperation with the committee, he also called on it to help the government take an appropriate decision on the matter. “After the report is made public on January 6, 2011, the media should communicate the contents of the report to viewers and readers in a fair, impartial and balanced way and promote sober and mature debate,” he said.
Making it clear that the government will not rush to conclusions, the home minister said, “The report is in two volumes. The report will be carefully studied in the ministry of home affairs and will be shared with the ministries or departments concerned of the government,” he said.
The home minister said, “Let me assure the people of Andhra Pradesh that the deployment of security forces is a purely precautionary measure. They will remain in the force headquarters or police stations as a reserve force.”
In an indirect message to political parties on the issue of maintaining peace, Mr Chidambaram reminded them of the promise made during the January 5, 2010 meeting. “All political parties and groups have assured us that they will maintain peace, harmony and law and order. We welcome and believe these assurances,” he said.
Responding to media queries after submitting the report, member-secretary Vinod Duggal said, “We have given the way forward.” Justice Srikrishna, when asked about the suggestions given by him, said, “You pose all your questions to the government now.”
According to sources, the committee has wriggled out of either recommending a separate state or batting for a united state. The approximately 800-page report simply details the pros and cons if a separate state is formed. It has also placed a series of choices before the Centre.