Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday assured a delegation of Congress MPs from coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema regions that a decision on the Telangana issue could be taken by Tuesday.
"He (PM) said that he understands that it is a grave situation. He said he is sitting with his colleagues and by tomorrow a decision could be taken to bring things in order," party MP from the state K S Rao told reporters after meeting Singh.
He said, "We met the prime minister and explained to him that the situation in Andhra Pradesh is going out of control day by day. A stage may come when even if the government wants to control the situation, it may not be possible. We explained the situation to the prime minister and requested him to make some announcement to bring solace to the people".
The delegation comprising over a dozen MPs included Union Minister Panabaka Laxmi and Subbirami Reddy amongst others.
Rao said that after the announcement of the Home Minister on Telangana, there is an apprehension amongst the people of coastal Andhra and Rayalseema that the process for the formation of Telengana has started. He said the agitation against the creation of Telangana was spontaneous and people have undertaken fast unto death.
"We told the prime minister that we do not want any division of the state...He understood our position. In a surcharged atmosphere, this is not a situation to think about Telangana," Rao said.
However, the delegation told Singh that they were not asking for closing the Telengana issue but want a consensus on the issue after the atmosphere "cools down," Rao said, adding "He (PM) said that is the way".
To a question whether they are demanding the formation of any committee to look into the matter, Rao said, "Let the government decide whether they will form a committee or call unbiased people and intellectuals, people who are not surcharged".
Subbirami Reddy said that a decision should come otherwise the situation would go out of control.
"The Prime Minister said he will sit with his colleagues and bring a solution to the problem in a day or two. By tomorrow, he will have a meeting with his colleagues," Reddy said, indicating that an announcement is likely either tomorrow or the day after.
Meanwhile, another Congress MP from Tirupati, Chinta Mohan, who met Singh separately to invite him for the inauguration of an international airport there, said that the "Prime Minister wanted peace first".
"The prime minister said that we will take a decision only after peace returns to the state," Mohan said. The MP said that he apprised Singh of the sentiments of the people about united Andhra Pradesh.
"He (PM) wanted immediate peace and said the issue would be solved soon," Mohan added. PTI
