Ahead of the meeting between Group of Ministers (GoM) on Telangana and Union Ministers from the State, Congress leaders from Telangana on Friday discussed key issues to be highlighted with the high-level panel. Union Ministers Jaipal Reddy and Porika Balram Naik besides three Andhra Pradesh Ministers from Telangana region, lok Sabha members and MlAs participated in the meeting.
Issues including retaining Bhadrachalam with the proposed Telangana State, river water sharing and funds for development of backward pockets were deliberated ahead of the Monday meeting with GoM.
The meeting gains significance as two State Ministers from Seemandhra region have demanded Union Territory status for Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Area (HMDA) during their meeting with the GoM on Telangana early this week.
On the other hand, Congress lok Sabha MP from Karimnagar, Ponnam Prabhakar wondered how people from Seemandhra stand to be benefited by making Hyderabad a Union Territory, when they are demanding a united Andhra Pradesh.
Warangal MP Rajaiah Siricilla said that any move to alter the status of Hyderabad would be vehemently opposed as it appears to be completely illogical. Andhra Pradesh Government Chief Whip and senior Congress leader GV Ramana Reddy said that funds would be sought for development of backward areas in Telangana region.
GoM on Telangana comprising Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Defence Minister AK Antony, Finance Minister P Chidambaram and others invited eight political parties from Andhra Pradesh for individual meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday to present their views on the bifurcation issue.
The BJP State unit president G Kishan Reddy alleged that all-party meeting convened by the GoM on the issue of division of Andhra Pradesh was only an eye-wash. TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu had boycotted the GoM meeting while YSR Congress and the CPI (M) reiterated that Andhra Pradesh should be kept united as the "devil of division" will raise its ugly head in other States and create more problems. CPM secretary BV Raghavulu too have expressed that the State should be kept intact and measures should be taken to improve the livelihood in backward regions of the State.