The controversial Telangana issue is back in the limelight after party general secretary and Andhra Pradesh in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad indicated that a final decision on this would be taken this month.
Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed on Monday, while addressing the media, said, ‘We are not against the creation of smaller states, including Telangana. Efforts to evolve a consensus in the matter is still on.’
‘Only the concerned general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad would be able to say what is happening in the discussions’, he further said.
During the AICC media briefing when Ahmed was asked about Azad’s comment, he said, ‘If our general secretary has said, then there will be something in his mind.’ Ahmed went on to say that this has been ‘a difficult issue as there are several opinions with in the party on it and to arrive on a final consensus will take time.’
Azad had on Sunday said, ‘Telangana is a priority before the Congress and it’s taking it seriously. Deliberations are on with all stakeholders. Consensus is being evolved in all the three regions. In all probability, the Centre will take a decision in this month.’ He made this statement after two Congress MPs quitting the party and joining Telangana Rashtra Samithi.
Sources in the Congress said that Telangana has been a contentious issue and the party does have it in mind to get it cleared but even if it happens it will be done by the time nearing elections. There are various voices dissenting the need for the creation of Telangana, while on the other hand there are varied leaders wanting it to be created as well, a source said.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh also vowed to create Telangana once his party comes to power at Centre.
‘Even the President of our country addressed the joint parliamentary session and said that a separate Telangana state would be created, which was actually a communication by the UPA government to the nation. I want to convey to the friends of this Congress government that promises should not be made unless they are sure of fulfilling the same,’ he said.
Singh also promised that if the BJP comes to power at the Centre their government would accomplish this demand. ‘If our government comes to power then we would surely create a separate Telangana state and this is a commitment from us to the people of Telangana region,' he said.
Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed on Monday, while addressing the media, said, ‘We are not against the creation of smaller states, including Telangana. Efforts to evolve a consensus in the matter is still on.’
‘Only the concerned general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad would be able to say what is happening in the discussions’, he further said.
During the AICC media briefing when Ahmed was asked about Azad’s comment, he said, ‘If our general secretary has said, then there will be something in his mind.’ Ahmed went on to say that this has been ‘a difficult issue as there are several opinions with in the party on it and to arrive on a final consensus will take time.’
Azad had on Sunday said, ‘Telangana is a priority before the Congress and it’s taking it seriously. Deliberations are on with all stakeholders. Consensus is being evolved in all the three regions. In all probability, the Centre will take a decision in this month.’ He made this statement after two Congress MPs quitting the party and joining Telangana Rashtra Samithi.
Sources in the Congress said that Telangana has been a contentious issue and the party does have it in mind to get it cleared but even if it happens it will be done by the time nearing elections. There are various voices dissenting the need for the creation of Telangana, while on the other hand there are varied leaders wanting it to be created as well, a source said.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh also vowed to create Telangana once his party comes to power at Centre.
‘Even the President of our country addressed the joint parliamentary session and said that a separate Telangana state would be created, which was actually a communication by the UPA government to the nation. I want to convey to the friends of this Congress government that promises should not be made unless they are sure of fulfilling the same,’ he said.
Singh also promised that if the BJP comes to power at the Centre their government would accomplish this demand. ‘If our government comes to power then we would surely create a separate Telangana state and this is a commitment from us to the people of Telangana region,' he said.