New Delhi:
Amid pressure from various quarters for an early decision on the Telangana issue, the government today said more consultations with various parties are needed on the contentious statehood demand and the exercise would take "some time" to end.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Political Secretary to Congress President Ahmed Patel discussed the situation in the Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh at the North Block in New Delhi.
The Telangana statehood demand, which has divided Congress in Andhra Pradesh on regional lines, was deliberated at the party's Core Group meeting yesterday which also discussed a report submitted by Mr Azad based on his interactions with party lawmakers from the state.
"We are in the process of consultations. Yesterday, we discussed it in the Core Group. Today also, some of my (colleagues) discussed it with me. Further consultations would be needed. We are in the process of it," Mr Mukherjee told reporters after the meeting.
He said the government was "fully aware" of the gravity of the situation and the agitation which has paralysed life in all the 10 districts of the Telangana region, including state capital Hyderabad.
"Therefore, we will have to go for more consultations that will take some time," he said.
The meeting took place as TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao arrived in New Dehi to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders to demand an early solution to the statehood issue. Mr Azad said his consultations lasted two months and "it is not an easy decision to be taken."
"Whatever the decision or resolution, it will take time. We need to take everybody on board. More discussions are needed in this regard with some senior leaders at the national level of some parties and also with some at the state level. This is the progress at the moment," Mr Azad said.
"Consultations are required and one step will overtake another. One step is over now and the next will start. This will take some time," he added.
The Congress is caught in a tricky situation in Andhra Pradesh with the Telangana region observing an indefinite bandh over the issue of separate statehood, a demand being opposed by the party in coastal Andhra and Rayalseema regions of the state.
Party leaders from Telangana are camping in New Delhi for the last few days to press for the demand of separate statehood.
The Congress high command had in July asked Mr Azad to hold consultations with leaders from Telangana, Rayalseema and coastal Andhra regions on the issue and elicit their views. Mr Azad has been receiving delegations of ministers, MPs and MLAs from all the three regions since July and concluded the process on Wednesday.
During the interactions, the leaders, who are divided deeply along regional lines, had stuck to their known stands.
While Telangana MPs and MLAs have resigned from Parliament or assembly, demanding the Centre and Congress immediately announce the formation of a separate state, their counterparts from the other two regions have opposed any move to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.