Ignoring widespread protests by anti-Telangana groups, the Centre has decided to hold the first meeting of the Group of Ministers on the proposed division of Andhra Pradesh.
However, no time limit was fixed for the Group of Ministers (GoM) to resolve the tricky issue of bifurcation of the State, indicating that the matter could linger on.
The meeting, to be chaired by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, would look into the aspects of setting out geographical, administrative, judicial boundaries of the new State, financial packages to be allotted to the rest of the State, maintainability of Hyderabad as joint Capital for ten years and finding of a new Capital for the Seema-Andhra region.
According to senior Government sources the Term of Reference (ToR) of the GoM includes the contentious issue of sharing of river water, natural resources like coal, oil and gas between Telangana and the rest of Andhra Pradesh.
However, the Centre suggested the possibilities of declaration of Polavaram Irrigation Project as a National Project in the ToR to avoid friction between the divided regions in the future.
Defence Minister AK Antony, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas M Veerappa Moily and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh are among the members of the GoM. Minister of State for Personnel and Prime Minister’s Office, V Narayanasamy, is the Special Invitee on the panel. Talking to the media Shinde said the NTPC should be able to supply power to Andhra by Friday.
At the same time, on Wednesday, the Resident Commissioner of Andhra Bhawan sought the Home Ministry’s help to evict TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, who is on an indefinite fast at the premises.Naidu, whose fast entered the third day on Wednesday, however, remained defiant.
“I am a resident of Andhra Pradesh and this great country, who has the right to protest. I will continue my hunger strike, wherever you put me. I am not bothered about my health or life.
But Congress would be responsible, if anything happens,” he said.The TDP has also alleged that officials were imposing restrictions on serving food to people visiting AP Bhavan to meet the fasting leader.
Meanwhile, Shinde distanced himself from the issue. “We have nothing to do with it. It’s their matter. What do we have to do with itIJ” he told reporters here. But there were indications that Delhi Police is expected to arrest and remove Naidu soon.