Decision on Telangana may be by tomorrow,PM tells Cong leaders

New Delhi, Dec 21 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh Monday assured a delegation of Congress MPs from coastal
Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema regions in southern India that a
decision on the Telangana issue could be taken by Tuesday.
"He (PM) said that he understands that it is a grave
situation. He said he is sitting with his colleagues and by
tomorrow a decision could be taken to bring things in order,"
party Member of Parliament from the state K S Rao told
reporters after meeting Singh.
He said, "We met the prime minister and explained to
him that the situation in Andhra Pradesh is going out of
control day by day. A stage may come when even if the
government wants to control the situation, it may not be
possible. We explained the situation to the prime minister and
requested him to make some announcement to bring solace to the
people".
The delegation comprising over a dozen MPs included
Union Minister Panabaka Laxmi and Subbirami Reddy amongst
others.
Rao said that after the announcement of the Home
Minister on Telangana, there is an apprehension amongst the
people of coastal Andhra and Rayalseema that the process for
the formation of Telengana has started.
He said the agitation against the creation of
Telangana was spontaneous and people have undertaken fast unto
death.
"We told the prime minister that we do not want any
division of the state...He understood our position. In a
surcharged atmosphere, this is not a situation to think about
Telangana," Rao said.
However, the delegation told Singh that they were not
asking for closing the Telengana issue but want a consensus on
the issue after the atmosphere "cools down," Rao said, adding
"He (PM) said that is the way".
To a question whether they are demanding the formation
of any committee to look into the matter, Rao said, "Let the
government decide whether they will form a committee or call
unbiased people and intellectuals, people who are not
surcharged".
Subbirami Reddy said that a decision should come
otherwise the situation would go out of control.
"The Prime Minister said he will sit with his
colleagues and bring a solution to the problem in a day or
two. By tomorrow, he will have a meeting with his colleagues,"
Reddy said, indicating that an announcement is likely either
Tuesday or the day after.
Meanwhile, another Congress MP from Tirupati, Chinta
Mohan, who met Singh separately to invite him for the
inauguration of an international airport there, said that the
"Prime Minister wanted peace first".
"The prime minister said that we will take a decision
only after peace returns to the state," Mohan said.
The MP said that he apprised Singh of the sentiments
of the people about united Andhra Pradesh. "He (PM) wanted
immediate peace and said the issue would be solved soon,"
Mohan added. PTI AMR
MYR