New Delhi: With the Telangana issue igniting
passions in Andhra Pradesh, Congress today said that it was a
very delicate matter and that each step has to be taken after
consultations.
"It is a very delicate matter in which each step has to be
taken after consultations," party spokesperson Jayanthi
Natarajan told reporters here replying to a volley of
questions on the stand of the party and the way forward on the
issue.
On whether the issue was badly handled, she said, "No".
She added that the issue was there for the last 45-50 years.
Natarajan denied that there was a reversal in the stand
of the party but said there has been a change of stand for all
other parties.
To a query about the resignation of ministers from the
Telangana region and the problems in running the government,
she said, "We will deal with it. All issues can be solved
through dialogue.
On a question about BJP`s criticism on handling of the
issue, Natarajan said the party did not take the criticism
of BJP seriously as it has also changed its stand on the
issue.
Congress sources, meanwhile, denied setting into motion
any process for creation of the second States Reorganisation
Commission, saying though the CWC had passed a resolution to
this effect, there was no consensus on it.
A senior party leader said in the 2004 manifesto of the
party, Congress had talked about the second SRC and consensus.
"When elections were held in 2004, it was a UPA
government and not a Congress government. As there was no
consensus, the issue of second SRC was not taken up," the
leader said.
"We have no objection to Telangana. We are maintaining
the stand. Wide ranging consultations are required," the
leader pointed out.
Asked whether the party was for united Andhra Pradesh, he
said, the people of the state would decide and described
consultations and building a consensus as very important on
separate statehood.
PTI
