Centre trying for early resolution of Telangana: Azad

Union Health Minister and Congress in-charge for Andhra Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday said that the Congress party-led United Progressive Alliance government is trying to resolve the separate Telangana state issue in the most amicable way.

Azad, who has been holding discussions with political parties and various stakeholders from the region, however refused to spell out a time-line on the issue.

"We had a wide range of consultations at the national level. The Congress leadership and the Congress party are for the early resolution of the Telangana issue. An issue, which has been there for a long time," Azad told reporters in New Delhi.

"We would like to decide as soon as possible, but yet I wouldn't like to give any time-line. I can't say before the winter session or after the winter session (of Parliament)," he added.

Pro-Telangana activists have stepped up their efforts for the four-decade-old demand of a separate state, which is sought to be carved out of the economically less developed parts of Andhra Pradesh.

The struggle gathered momentum last year after the UPA government accepted their demand in principle.

Several protests and shutdowns had brought Andhra Pradesh to a near halt in 2009 and 2010, as pro-Telangana activists persisted with their demand.