Parties Should Be Ready To Talk: PC

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday stated that he would convene an all-party meeting on the Telangana statehood issue only after he is assured that the parties are ready to give their points of view to the Centre.

The Union Home Minister told media persons during his monthly press briefing that he would call the all-party meeting whenever the 8 political parties in Andhra Pradesh express that they are ready to give their opinions on the contentious statehood issue. "I will call the all-party meeting whenever the parties are ready to come up with their views on Telangana state," the Union Home Minister stated.

When pressed to give a time-frame when the much-awaited all-party meeting would be held, Chidambaram said that he could not give the date. He, however, expressed the hope that all the 8 parties would attend the meeting whenever it is convened without boycotting it.

The Union Home Minister also revealed that the report by the Justice Srikrishna Committee and the options it had offered were under active consideration by the Centre.

Describing the Telangana statehood demand as a 'sensitive issue,' Chidambaram said that it cannot be expected to be solved overnight. He stated that the Centre needs more time and appealed to all parties and people of the region to observe restraint and be patient until a decision is taken.

Meanwhile, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has called for an emergency meeting of its Executive Committee on Wednesday to discuss the Union Home Minister's remarks. The TRS Executive Committee is expected to chalk out the future course of agitation on the issue.

According to reports, TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao will leave for New Delhi on Wednesday night after the meeting.

Courtesy: INN