The students, including girls were stopped by the police outside Vigyan Bhawan. They were raising slogans demanding the immediate creation of Telangana state.
The newly-constituted Justice (retired) BN Srikrishna committee had to face the ire of the Telangana protagonists immediately after it sat for its maiden meeting at the high security Vigyan Bhavan in Lutyens Delhi.
Notwithstanding Justice Krishna’s assurance that he would complete his work before the stipulated deadline (December 31, 2009), a group of students held demonstrations outside the venue but were immediately whisked away by the police.
The students, including girls were stopped by the police outside Vigyan Bhawan. They were raising slogans demanding the immediate creation of Telangana state.
Justice Srikrishna, flanked by other members of the committee tried to put at rest the doubts that the panel was in for a long haul and that it was an exercise undertaken by the Centre to ultimately sweep the contentious issue under the carpet.
Having already headed a Commission that probed the infamous the Mumbai serial blasts, he said that he would complete the task given to him within the stipulated period and “would not seek any extension”.
“You can verify this claim from my previous record. I have completed my task in the past within only two-thirds of the stipulated time,” he said.
V K Duggal, member-secretary of the committee and a former Home Secretary, echoed similar views. In its inaugural meeting, the committee has decided to meet twice a month with its next meeting scheduled to take place on February 25. The committee members put in place the procedure to be followed by it and distributed the responsibilities among its five members.
Duggal told mediapersons that the arduous task would require frequent consultations with the stakeholders. “The committee will also be going to Hyderabad in this connection and may have to travel to the city on many occasions,” he said.
The panel will hold wide-ranging consultations with political parties, members of civil society and other outfits on the Telangana issue, which has divided almost all the political parties in Andhra Pradesh along regional lines.
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