PM holds meet on Telangana issue

New Delhi, Dec 29 (PTI) As south Indian state of Andhra
Pradesh waits with bated breath for the report on Telangana
statehood issue, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on
Wednesday reviewed the political and security situation in the
state with his senior cabinet colleagues.
The five-member Justice Srikrishna committee, which went
into the demand for Telangana state, may submit its report to
Home Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday, a day before the term
of the committee expires. It will suggest "several options
with their pros and cons" on the statehood issue.
Singh discussed the issue with Finance Minister Pranab
Mukherjee, Defence Minister A K Antony, Home Minister P
Chidambaram and Law Minister M Veerappa Moily besides senior
government officials, sources said.
No official word was available on what they discussed in
the meeting but the deliberations are understood to have
covered the various pros and cons of the statehood demand and
the likely fall out on similar demands from other regions if
the Telangana demand is conceded.
Chidambaram is understood to have briefed the meeting
about the steps being taken by the Home Ministry, including
sending 5,000 central paramilitary force personnel and keeping
some more in standby to be deployed in case of any emergency
situation.
Sources said the meeting discussed the possible
situation in Andhra Pradesh, particularly in Telangana region,
after the submission of the report and how to deal with it.
The Central government is treading cautiously on the
issue considering its sensitive nature and thinks that any
action or statement may lead to tension and unnecessary
trouble and have to be careful, sources said.
Meanwhile, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika
Soni met Chidambaram and discussed the advisory issued by the
News Broadcasters Association (NBA) asking news channels to be
"sensitive" while covering the release of the Srikrishna
Committee report.
The self-regulatory body has asked all editors, who
are members of the NBA, to ensure that the telecast of any
news relating to it should not be sensational, inflammatory or
provocative.
Sources said Soni has suggested to Chidambaram
appointment of a nodal officer in the Home Ministry for
dissemination of all information related to Justice Srikrishna
committee report.
The Committee was constituted by the Centre on
February 3 to look into the demands for the creation of a
separate state as well as keeping Andhra Pradesh united.