Telangana's final call by Centre: Panel

Justice B N Srikrishna, who heads the five-member committee to study the situation in Andhra Pradesh arising out of demand for separate Telangana, has said the final decision will have to be taken by the Centre. 

Srikrishna, who along with other members of the committee left Hyderabad after two day-visit on Friday, told the media his committee was trying to understand the pulse of the people by hearing the views of the political parties and organisation.

"Accordingly we will submit our report to the Central government", he said.

"But if a separate state has to be constituted, a bill will have to be presented in Parliament," he said.

Even as the committee was hearing the views of different political parties and other groups including the supporters and opponents of Telangana state, a new controversy has erupted.

Telugu Desam has taken a strong objection to the statement of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram that a political consensus was a must for Telangana.

"If political consensus was necessary, why the Centre set up Srikrishna committee and what purpose it would serve", asked N Janardhan Reddy who heads the Telangana Forum with in Telugu Desam party.

"The statement is highly irresponsible. He has insulted the feelings and sentiments of the people of Telangana", Janardhan Reddy told a press conference. He also wanted to know whether there was a political consensus when Telangana was merged into coastal Andhra to form Andhra Pradesh.

Justice Srikrisna committee will return to Hyderabad again on May 10 to hear the views other parties and organizations.

During the visit the committee will record the views of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Jamat-e-Islami, Telangana and Andhra groups of Telugu Desam party, Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry and United Andhra Joint Action Committee.