The main Opposition BJP on Thursday said it was committed to formation of a Telangana state, irrespective of the suggestions given by the Justice Srikrishna Committee on the statehood demand. The party maintained that it would come out with a detailed response on the issue after the Centre holds a meeting with eight
recognised political parties of Andhra Pradesh on January 6 on the issue. Justice Srikrishna Committee on Thursday submitted its report on the separate Telangana state demand to the Centre. The CPI also supported the demand for a separate Telangana state while the major Left party, CPI(M) opposed the creation of a separate Telangana state. The CPI(M) has said any change in states formed on linguistic basis will lead to several problems. CPI national secretary D. Raja said, “We support the demand for Telangana . We will go through the contents of the report.”
Meanwhile, the Congress hoped that government will take an “appropriate” decision after taking political parties into confidence.
“The Congress is not against smaller states including Telangana. Srikrishna Committee has submitted its report. We hope government will take political parties into confidence and take an appropriate action,” party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said.
Speaking on the issue, BJP national spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said “BJP stand on the matter is very clear from the beginning. We have taken one line on Telengana that in 1997 BJP had passed a resolution on bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. BJP has always been in favour of smaller states. It is in favour of Telengana.” The party insisted that the issue needs a political solution which can be made through a bill in Parliament for formation of Telengana. “BJP did not give representation before the Srikrishna Commission due to only one reason, that it wants a political solution for Telengana. And this will be made when the government tables a Bill in Parliament. Telengana needs a political resolution,” Ms Sitharaman said.
The Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, wrote on a social networking website “We are eagerly looking forward to formation of a separate Telangana state,” she posted on her Twitter account.