Primary Education Minister S Sailajanath, on Monday, reiterated that Seemandhra ministers are firm on stalling the division of Andhra Pradesh for formation of a Telangana state.
Talking to reporters, Sailajanath claimed that the Fazal Ali Commission was against the formation of Telangana, and that even Indira Gandhi was against smaller states.
He said that originally, Congress president Sonia Gandhi was in favour of constituting a second States Reorganisation Commission, but that the Congress Working Committee had taken a decision in favour of bifurcation, which was not acceptable to Seemandhra leaders.
Sailajanath said that Seemandhra ministers would meet the Antony Committee on Tuesday in the national capital, and hand over their resolution passed, in the presence of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy.
He admitted that there is no unanimity among Congress leaders over the Telangana issue. "While some are demanding Rayala Telangana, others are asking for a Greater Rayalaseema state," he said, "Further, there is no clarity on the status of Hyderabad."
The minister said that a division of the state would be stalled at any cost, and that Seemandhra leaders are ready to make "any sacrifice".
Government whip in the Legislative Council Rudraraju Padmaraju was also present. (INN)
filed in:Telangana Formation, United AP Movement, S Sailajanath, A K Antony Committee