Srikrishna committee submits report on Telangana

The five-member Justice Srikrishna committee today submitted its report on the separate Telangana state demand to home minister P Chidambaram, who said the government will consult all political parties before taking an "appropriate" decision on the issue.

The two-volume report, prepared by the committee after extensive discussions with political parties and other organisations in the state over the past 11 months, was submitted a day before the committee's term was to expire.

Soon after the submission of the report, Chidambaram told reporters that he proposed to convene a meeting of eight recognised political parties of Andhra Pradesh on January 6.

"Immediately after the meeting, the report will be made public," he said on the report which the committee had said will contain "several suggestions with pros and cons" on the Telangana demand.

The highest satisfaction of the largest number will be its aim, Justice Srikrishna had said on Tuesday about the report.

Chidambaram said the government will consider the report carefully and begin the process of consultations with all political parties before taking appropriate decisions on the report.

"That is the only way in a democracy and those who respect democracy must also respect the process of democracy," he said.

"The report is in two volumes. The report will be carefully studied in the ministry of home affairs and will be shared with the ministries or departments concerned of the government.

The government has great faith in the wisdom, maturity and tolerance of the people of Andhra Pradesh, he said.

The home minister said all political parties and groups have given an assurance that they will maintain peace, harmony and law and order. "We welcome and believe these assurances".

He said that he has noted that there was some concern about the deployment of security forces. "Let me assure the people of Andhra Pradesh that the deployment of security forces is a purely precautionary measure. They will remain in the force headquarters or police stations as a reserve force," he added.

Recalling the January 5 meeting of eight recognised political parties from the state, Chidambaram said the government and the parties made a joint appeal to the people of Andhra Pradesh to maintain peace, harmony and law and order.

"On behalf of the government, I reiterate that appeal today. We are glad that 2010 was a peaceful year in Andhra Pradesh and it is our fervent desire that peace will be maintained in the future too," he said.

Chidambaram said the government has great faith in the "wisdom, maturity and tolerance" of the people of Andhra Pradesh.

"All political parties and groups have assured us that they will maintain peace, harmony and law and order. We welcome and believe these assurances," the home minister said.

On deployment of forces, he said as long as the people and political parties and groups take upon themselves the responsibility of maintaining law and order "we do not foresee the need to actually deploy security forces."

"I reiterate that we have faith in the wisdom of the people of Andhra Pradesh and we are confident that the present atmosphere of peace and harmony will continue to prevail," he said.

The home minister also appealed to the media to extend the same "splendid cooperation" that it gave to the Srikrishna committee.

"After the report is made public on January 6, 2011, the media should communicate the contents of the report to viewers and readers in a fair, impartial and balanced way and promote sober and mature debate," he said.

Such debate will help the government to take appropriate decisions on the report.