New Delhi, Feb 3 (Inditop.com) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday rejected the government’s announcement of a committee to deliberate on a mechanism for statehood for Telangana, terming it an “eyewash” and a “delaying tactic”.
BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said the five-member committee would serve no purpose as there was no clear reference for creation of a separate state of Telangana.
“The BJP rejects lock stock and barrel the committee set up by the central government for consultation on the situation in Andhra Pradesh,” Javadekar said.
He said no time frame had been laid for the committee and its terms of reference had also not been been spelt out.
“The committee is an eyewash and adds insult to the injured sentiments of the people of Telangana. It is a delaying tactic and futile exercise,” he said.
Demanding that the central government move a bill for creation of Telangana in the ensuing budget session of parliament, Javadekar said the BJP was committed to support the bill.
“The BJP believes that two states will co-exist peacefully and prosper rapidly,” he said.
Javadekar said bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh for creation of two separate states – Telangana and Andhra – was essentially a political issue “which required firm political decision and action by the central government”.
“Instead of deciding the time frame to carve out two states, the government has abdicated its constitutional obligation by shifting its responsibility to the committee. Appointment of a committee headed by a retired Judge is irrelevant as no legal issue is involved.”
Asserting that the problems had arisen because of “u-turn and double standards” of the Congress, Telugu Desam Party and Praja Rajyam Party on the issue, Javadekar said all parties had agreed for creation of Telangana in the meeting convened by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah in Hyderabad on Dec 7.
“These parties started speaking in two voices, one in Telangana and another in Andhra region. This u-turn has caused turmoil in the state. These parties need to take a definite stand, which is a political process,” he said and demanded that the Congress and TDP must come clean on the issue.
The government Wednesday announced a five-member panel headed by retired Supreme Court judge B.N. Srikrishna to deliberate on a mechanism for a separate Telangana state and consult all sections of people, political parties and groups in Andhra Pradesh.
The government however said the terms of reference of the committee would be decided later.
The other members of the committee are vice chancellor of the National Law University Ranbir Singh, senior research fellow of the International Food Policy Research Institute Abusaleh Shariff, former home secretary Vinod Duggal and Ravinder Kaur, professor, department of humanities and social sciences, IIT Delhi.
“The terms of reference are being drafted and will be finalised in consultation with the chairman and announced shortly,” said a statement from the home ministry.
