Final call on T only after exhaustive talks: Azad

Congress In-Charge for Party Affairs in Andhra Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday said that any final decision on the contentious Telangana statehood demand would be taken after exhaustive consultations with leaders of all the three regions of the state.

Talking to media persons in this dusty city, which was once part of the Princely State of Hyderabad Deccan, Mr Azad disclosed that the exhaustive discussions would be held at an appropriate time and place.

“The final decision would be taken after detailed discussing with leaders, including Ministers, MPs, Legislators and leaders of the opposition parties from all the three regions of the state,” the Union Health Minister said.

He also disclosed that a meeting with representatives of Telangana and Seemandhra regions has already been held but refused to divulge any details about this meeting.

Earlier in the day, members of the Telangana Congress Steering Committee met Mr Azad during the brief time he was at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad, having embarked off the flight from New Delhi to take a helicopter to Gulbarga.

MPs Ponnam Prabhakar, K Rajagopal, Anjan Kumar Yadav and Rajaiah were among the leaders who met Mr Azad.

He is believed to have told them that he was not in favour of either the separate Telangana or Samaikhya Andhra demands. He also told the representatives to announce the names of the Steering Committee.

The members are, K Jana Reddy (Chairman), K Kesava Rao. The Panel members are Ponnala Lakshmaiah, D Sridhar Babu, J Geetha Reddy, Saraiah, G Sukhender Reddy, Ponnam Prabhakar, Madha yaskhi Goud, Manda Jagannatham, K Rajagopal Reddy, G Vivek, S Rajaiah, Balram Nayak, Jupali Krishna Rao, R Damodar Reddy, G Venkataramna Reddy, S Satyanarayana, Rajaiah, K Lakshma Reddy, K Yadava Reddy and Mohan Reddy.