Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, on Thursday, said that the separate state of Telangana may be a reality in less than 6 months.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Shinde said that the
resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee has been sent to the Union Home Ministry, and that the procedure prescribed by the Constitution would be followed for the formation of the state of Telangana.
Explaining the entire procedure, he said that it usually takes 8 to 9 months for the process to be completed. He added that the government would hasten the procedure to complete the formalities in 5 to 6 months, and that it could even be expected to be finished earlier.
Shinde said that the Telangana bill might not be introduced in the session of Parliament beginning on August 5. However, he said that it would be presented in the next session.
The Home Minister admitted that there is now a spurt in demands for smaller states from across the country, including from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, the north-east and West Bengal. However, he justified the Congress' stand on Telangana, stating that the demand for Telangana has been pending since 1956, and that therefore it was resolved first.
He said that the Centre would consider other demands if they are "workable". He also appealed to people demanding smaller States not to resort to violence to express themselves.
When asked whether Hyderabad would be made a common capital of the two states of Telangana and Andhra for 10 years, or a Union Territory for that period, Shinde merely replied that "the Home Ministry is working on it".
Reacting to reports of en masse resignations by Seemandhra leaders, Shinde said that reversing the Telangana decision is now not in the hands of the Congress. He said that the CWC has already sent the resolution to the government, and that it would now be the Central government that would take all future decisions. (INN)