Continuing hide-and-seek game over the Telangana issue, Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, AICC state affairs in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad and AICC spokesperson PC Chacko, on Wednesday, made different statements, allowing their party leaders from Telangana and Seemandhra to draw conclusions of their own choice.
If Shinde refused to set any deadline for a decision on Telangana and reiterated that the consultation process was still going on, Azad has said the people of the other two regions are opposing division of state. Chacko said his party is not against Telangana state and it was only a matter of time before a decision is announced.
Shinde, who returned to New Delhi from Dhaka on Tuesday evening, told reporters on Wednesday that, “The process of consultations over Telangana issue is still going on. It may take more time.”
Soon after Shinde interacted with the media, Azad too spoke on similar lines while talking to reporters in Odisha. The party needed more time to resolve the Telangana issue as there was no consensus among the people of the three regions, he said.
“We have been trying to resolve the Telangana issue for the last two years by holding consultations among stake-holders. But, we are unable to achieve consensus among them as people of one region want separation and the people of other two regions oppose it,” said Azad.
Meanwhile, AICC spokesperson PC Chacko said, “Congress is not against the formation of Telangana state. We are in the process of taking a decision. Our party’s position on the issue is well known and it’s only a question of time when the decision will be announced.”
The AICC spokesperson made these remarks in a press conference in Delhi on Wednesday at a time when the Congress MPs from Telangana have sought an appointment with AICC supremo Sonia Gandhi.
Asked whether it is really a matter of time, Chacko said, “Yeah, you are right. We have taken a position. Our party’s stance is clear. ”