New Delhi:
Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that he has a fresh and open mind in resolving the Telangana crisis, adding that he is looking forward to a "specific dialogue".
He even went to the extent of saying that it's not just the Srikrishna Report that should be considered but a "fresh mindset needs to be developed in finding a solution to this restive issue".
"Everything is open and it's for the representatives to put forward their arguments - both for and against. We are looking forward to a more specific dialogue. They have been sent here by the people, so whatever they'll speak here we'll take that into cognizance," Mr Azad said.
"I think the representatives are free to say anything because these representatives have their own aspirations for a separate state; the representatives from other regions will have their own point of view. So, we are trying to find out a meeting point. Let's see, I'll try to conclude this in two months and we'll see which the areas of difference are and which are the areas of convergence," he added.
Mr Azad met a delegation of leaders from the Telangana region on Wednesday amid his intention to complete discussions within the party in the next two months.
The delegation consisting of Ministers, MP and MLAs from Telangana met Mr Azad for the second time in three days and gave a powerpoint presentation on certain issues related to the statehood demand.
Giving a patient hearing to the delegation, Mr Azad told them that he would get back to them after discussions with leaders from two other regions of the state - coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.
Mr Azad who is in charge of Andhra Pradesh for his party had said that discussions on carving out a separate Telangana state should begin from scratch. Those remarks had upset Telangana leaders. Then, in an attempt at pacification, Mr Azad had said that consultations will be held with party leaders from coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana.
Ever since Telangana lawmakers put in their papers on July 4, Mr Azad has been meeting leaders of all three regions of the state separately. He has been counselling patience and asking them to wait till the party and the Centre takes a decision on the issue.
The Health Minister will also receive a delegation from the coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions on Thursday and will hold discussions with them.
Congress leaders in Andhra Pradesh are deeply divided on regional lines and the party has not been in a position to come out with a stand on the issue.
(With PTI inputs)