Center to offer a 'package' to Telangana

Hyderabad: A solution for Telangana on the lines of Gurkhaland package is being thought of by the Congress Core Committee, according to reliable sources.

The details of a package are being worked out and a proposal to that effect will be placed before TRS leader K Chandrasekhara Rao and Telangana Congress leaders at an appropriate time.

Member of Rajya Sabha K Kesava Rao is understood to have been ignored when he suggested that Telangana would be in flames if a package is announced by the Centre.

He reportedly said that anything short of a statehood would not satisfy the people of Telangana. The Congress Core Committee is of the view that the leaders of the Telangana movement are not in a position of paralyzing life in Telangana anymore and a package could be sold to them after some time.

The Committee has noted with satisfaction that the prime minister's statement a few days ago, while returning from Maldives, almost rejecting the demand of Telangana has not caused any ripples in Telangana.

The fact that TDP president Chandrababu's tour in Telangana also went off peacefully without any resistance from TRS cadres and the followers of the Political JAC has also been noted.

Indications to the effect that KCR is prepared to wait till 2014 elections and keep the movement alive only through symbolic actions like paada yaatras have emboldened the Core Committee to think of the next move.

With the return of the MLAs loyal to YS Jaganmohan Reddy and the Telangana MLAs, who submitted resignations, to the party fold without any fuss also has prompted the Core Committee to think that their patience is paying off.

The Congress is toying with a proposal to experiment for some time with a package for Telangana. Even a change in chief ministership is not being contemplated, according to sources.

This line of thinking may be indicated by the home minister during the parliament session that begins tomorrow.

In the meanwhile, Chidambaram has reportedly written to the prime minister that the proposal for a Tribal Development Council in Andhra Pradesh, purportedly floated by senior Congress leader Kishore Chandra Dev, would be counterproductive and hence could not be accepted.

Kishore Chandra Dev who hails from the tribal area of North Andhra has suggested that the only way to fight Naxalism is to improve the living standards of the tribal people and a Council to plan and monitor for their comprehensive development of the tribal areas in the state on the lines of Tripura Hill Areas Development Council would go a long way in resolving the vexed problem.

Dev came up with the proposal in the context of the Telangana Development Council being considered by the Congress high command as part of a larger solution to Telangana issue.

Union Rural Development Minister jairam Ramesh also subscribes to the view that focus should be on the development of the tribal areas rather than using force to suppress Naxalite movement. However, the home minister thinks otherwise.