PM to discuss T-issue with colleagues in a day or two

New Delhi, Dec 21: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured a group of MPs from Andhra Pradesh on Monday morning that he understands the turmoil in Andhra Pradesh over the State's division procedure following the Centre's decision to allocate separate statehood to Telangana.''The Prime Minister has indicated that he would discuss with his colleagues and by tomorrow a decision could be taken on the troubled issue,' party MP from the state Kavuri Sambasiva Rao told newsmen on Monday after meeting Manmohan Singh.Rao said the delegation comprising a dozen MPs including Union Minister Panabaka Laxmi and former minister Subbirami Reddy met the Prime Minister and explained to him the situation in Andhra Pradesh which is going out of control everyday.

The MPs also urged Singh to make some announcement to bring solace to the people and announce that Telangana was not getting separated from Andhra Pradesh immediately.Rao said after the announcement of Home Minister P Chidambaram on Telangana statehood on the night of Dec 10, there is apprehension among the people of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions that the process for the formation of Telengana has started.He said the agitation against the creation of Telangana was spontaneous and the people have taken uo fasts indefinitely.''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 team of MPs told Singh that they were not asking for closing the Telengana issue but want a consensus solution on the issue after the atmosphere "cools down," Rao said,adding the Prime Minister agreed to the suggestion.Asked whether they are seeking a committee to look into the matter, Rao said, the government should decide whether they will form a committee or call people and intellectuals who are not surcharged".

T.Subbirami Reddy said a decision should come by all means, otherwise the situation would go out of control.''Dr Singh said he will sit with his colleagues and thrash out a solution to the problem in a day or two. By tomorrow,he will meet his colleagues,"Reddy said,suggesting that an announcement is likely in a couple of days. Meanwhile, Tirupati MP Chinta Mohan,who met Singh separately to invite him for the inauguration of an international airport there, said the "Prime Minister wanted peace first"."He said we will take a decision only after peace returns to the state," Mohan said. The MP said he apprised Singh of the sentiments of the people about united Andhra Pradesh.

 "The PM wanted immediate peace and said the issue would be solved soon," Mohan added.On Sunday night, Union Minister of State for Steel A Sai Pratap said the Centre is likely to make a satisfactory statement on Telangana issue on Monday night. He told newsmen in Kadapa that the Centre and the Congress high command are considering all aspects of the problem that erupted in the State following the Home Minister's announcement.