More consultations needed on Telangana issue: Ghulam Nabi Azad

The Central leadership was aware of the situation in Andhra Pradesh, but "more consultations at the national level" were necessary to resolve the Telangana issue, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said in Hyderabad on Sunday.

"We need more consultations at the national level. I won't be able to tell you the exact date. But we will try to settle this issue as soon as possible. I can only tell you that we are also conscious of the situation. Lot of people are suffering because of the (ongoing) strike and all that.

"So we want to settle this impasse as soon as possible," said Azad, in-charge of Congress affairs in Andhra Pradesh, while speaking to reporters at the airport before leaving for Vijayawada and Prakasam district for a visit.

The pro-Telangana employees of Andhra Pradesh government, who have been on strike since September 13, should resume their duties in pubic interest, he said.

Azad, Pranab Mukherjee and other top leaders held a meeting in Delhi on Sunday.