New Delhi:
As Andhra Pradesh awaits the report on Telangana statehood issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today reviewed the political and security situation in the state with his senior cabinet colleagues.
The five-member Justice Srikrishna committee, which went into the demand for Telangana state, may submit its report to Home Minister P Chidambaram tomorrow, a day before the term of the committee expires.
Singh discussed the issue with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A K Antony, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Law Minister M Veerappa Moily besides senior government officials, sources said.
The issue of whether a separate state of Telangana should be sanctioned has been a divisive and emotive debate in Andhra Pradesh. Over the last year, there have been massive and violent protests by supporters and opponents of a Telangana state.
Yesterday, the Srikrishna Committee, which has prepared the report of visiting all 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh, said it hopes it has found "a permanent solution" but stressed that it is upto the government and political parties to decide what happens next. The committee of five members was set up in February last year and is headed by former Supreme Court judge, BN Srikrishna. The panel's job was to interview different political parties and sections of society on a Telangana state. The committee says it has tried to deliver "highest satisfaction of the largest number."
(Read: Telangana report to give 'several options')The Centre has already sent security forces to help maintain law and order in Andhra Pradesh. The state government, meanwhile, under pressure from its own MPs, has dropped 1600 cases filed against student protestors who demonstrated either in favour of or against separate statehood.
Today, representatives of 14 universities from the non-Telangana regions, warned that "the consequences will be bitter" if the Srikrishna Committee does recommend bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The United Andhra Pradesh Students' Joint Action Committee (JAC) also asked elected representatives from non-Telangana regions to resign if the Centre sanctions a Telangana state.
(Read: College students start threats)Students at Osmania University have the opposite view. Their campus served as Ground Zero earlier this year for those campaigning for a new state.
Last December, Home Minister P Chidambaram said a Telangana state would be sanctioned. However, political parties from Andhra Pradesh, under severe pressure from those members who were not from Telangana, quickly withdrew their support for the bifurcation of the state.
The Centre was then forced to withdraw its decision and announce that the Srikrishna Committee would be assigned to collect political opinions.
(with PTI inputs)