Chidambaram Repeats Invites

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday repeated his invitation to the 8 major political parties in the state to send 2 representatives each to attend the all-party conclave on January 6th in New Delhi after 2 parties, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), announced that they would boycott the crucial event.

Talking to media persons, Chidambaram said that there was no question of postponing the conclave. He added that the representatives would first be given copies of the Justice Srikrishna Commission Report, and then asked to air their views on the contentious issue of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

The Union Home Minister emphasized that the option of airing their views over the issue would rest with the political parties, and there was no need to react immediately after receiving the report.

Reacting to the decision of Telangana Rashtra Samithi and Bharatiya Janata Party who had already said that they would boycott the crucial meeting, Chidambaram recalled that he had invited 2 representatives from each party during last such meeting held in January 2010, and they had expressed their opinion unanimously.

The TRS had said that inviting 2 representatives from each party would mean that divergent views would be expressed, thus delaying the making of any decision.

"This time also, I have invited 2 members from each party to present their views", Chidambaram said. He added, "Even if 2 members attend the meeting, there would not be 2 divergent opinions on the issue."

"However, it is left to the parties whether they want to send one or two representatives for the all-party meeting," the Union Home Minister said.

Chidambaram also expressed the hope that the TRS, BJP and all other parties would attend the meeting, and exchange their views freely.

When asked about the time the meeting would begin, the Union Home Minister said that it should not bother the media as they were not invited.

Chidambaram further added that the political parties had already promised to observe restraint, whatever the contents of the reports might be. He said that he was confident that this promise would be kept, and expressed the hope that there would be no law and order problem in the state.

The Union Home Minister further added that the centre would take an appropriate decision at an appropriate time over the issue.

After the completion of the all-party meeting, the Srikrishna Commission Report would be hosted on internet for public viewing.

Courtesy: INN