The Group of Ministers (GoM) finding ways not to hurt anyone : Shinde on Telangana

The Group of Ministers (GoM), set up to look into bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, is trying to find ways to not to hurt any region of the State while creating Telangana, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said on Tuesday.

“We are trying to find out a solution which does not hurt anyone,” he told reporters here after a meeting with Union Ministers Jairam Ramesh and S. Jaipal Reddy.

Mr. Ramesh, a member of the GoM, and Mr. Reddy, who is from Andhra Pradesh, are believed to have discussed issues related to creation of Telangana. The Ministerial panel will meet on Wednesday, possibly for the last time.

Dismissing the suggestion that there was delay in preparing the report of the GoM, Shinde said the report would be submitted to the Union Cabinet as early as possible.

“There is no delay. We will submit the report to the Cabinet soon,” he said.

The Home Minister also refuted reports that the Centre will give the Andhra Pradesh Assembly only 15 days, instead of a month, to pass the Telangana resolution in the House.

The GoM had held a series of meetings with leaders of eight political parties, Union Ministers from Andhra Pradesh and Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and officials in the last one month and they gave their opinion on distribution of assets and other issues between the new State and the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh.

Mr. Shinde had already said that the Telangana Bill would be tabled in the Winter Session of Parliament.

Sources said following an instruction from Congress high command, the GoM has speeded up the whole process.

Once the Cabinet clears the proposal, it will go to the President who in turn will refer it to Andhra Pradesh Assembly for approval. However, the Assembly resolution is not binding under the Constitution.

The Union Cabinet then can consider the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill and with Union Cabinet’s approval, it will send it to the President before being tabled in Parliament.

The Winter Session of Parliament commences on December 5, and will conclude on December 20.