GoM tripped over Hyderabad hurdle - TeluguPeople.com News

HYDERABAD: The Group of Ministers (GoM) on Telangana went into a huddle Tuesday, a day ahead of their 'final official' meeting, apparently to find an amicable solution to the contentious issue of status of Hyderabad.

But with neither Seemandhra leaders nor their Telangana counterparts budging an inch from their stated positions, it seems it might take longer than expected for the GoM to finalise its recommendations on State division.

Sources said the GoM might meet at least two-three times more to finalise its report. In all likelihood, it may not be able to submit its recommendations to the Union Cabinet by Nov 28 when the latter is scheduled to meet. The sources also said it may be difficult to table the Telangana bill in Parliament before December 10.

After an informal meeting with fellow panel member and Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh in the morning, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde told reporters he could not say if Wednesday's meeting would be the last.

'I cannot say if it could be the last meeting. We are still trying to find a solution that is acceptable to people of all the regions. Maybe, more consultations would be required,' he said.

That the GoM is grappling with what is evidently a tricky issue became apparent from Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy's assertion that there can be no tampering with Hyderabad.

Reddy, who met Shinde, said, 'There is no question of accepting union territory status for Hyderabad. Neither the people of the region nor the political parties nor I accept it.'

'The CWC has said protection should be provided for people of Seemandhra in Hyderabad for 10 years. It is a little going too far because I have no doubt the Telangana government will discharge its constitutional duties in protecting them. But, since people of Seemandhra are apprehensive, I said ok to the proposal (of the Centre providing protection to them),' he said.

He, however, added he was dead against converting Hyderabad into a union territory which implied he was ready to accept central control of law and order in the city.

The GoM, in its bid to thrash out a solution, is meeting Seemandhra ministers on Wednesday. Jairam Ramesh will be meeting some of them and is expected to present Jaipal Reddy's proposal before them.

Union Minister of State JD Seelam has already scaled down his demand for making Hyderabad a UT on a permanent basis and went on record saying he was seeking such status for a limited period only.

Earlier in the day, Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal and Shinde met and reportedly discussed issues relating to Hyderabad.

In a related development, Union Minister of State for Railways K Suryaprakash Reddy met Shinde and pressed for a Rayala-Telangana State as in such an event, the two Rayalaseema districts of Anantapur and Kurnool would not lose Hyderabad.

Suryaprakash Reddy is understood to have explained to Shinde that people want to stay with Telangana. He handed over to him resolutions passed by 1,700 villages in the two districts.

Even as hectic confabulations were on in Delhi, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Zone, VB Kamalasan Reddy called on Speaker Nadendla Manohar on Tuesday.

Their meeting assumed importance since the Telangana bill is likely to be referred to the Assembly by the end of this month for obtaining the opinion of the House.

As the House has only been adjourned sine die, the Speaker on his own could convene the Assembly. Telangana ministers, meanwhile called on Governor ESL Narasimhan and urged him not to prorogue the Assembly.

Vice-chairman of the National Disaster Managemnet Authority Marri Shashidhar Reddy led a delegation of Telangana leaders to Home Minister Shinde on Tuesday, seeking his help in increasing the number of Assembly seats in Telangana from 119 to 153 to impart greater political stabiltiy to the new State.