Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde faced the heat of Telangana protest as he was blocked from entering North Block on Saturday to chair the Group of Ministers (GoM) meeting on the proposed bifurcation by four MPs belonging to the TDP who pressed for inclusion of representatives from Joint Action Committee (JAC) in the high-powered Ministerial panel.
As Shinde, who chairs the GoM on Telengana, reached North Block for the second round of meeting, four TDP Parliamentarians — N Kristappa, N Siva Prasad, K Narayan Rao and M Venugopal Reddy — gheraoed Shinde and “physically” blocked him from entering his office. They requested him to include members of JAC in the GoM.
Surprised security personnel had a tough time handling the MPs who cautioned policemen of their privileges as Parliamentarians. Shinde, composing himself after the initial surprise, assured the MPs that TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu had given in writing on an independent Telengana. later, the Home Minister proceeded for the meeting. The agitating MPs waved placards which said “Save Andhra Pradesh”.
Emerging out from the meeting, Shinde said, “The GoM discussed in detail terms of reference. We asked Secretaries of concerned departments to sit together with officials of Andhra Pradesh Government and make detailed reports on bifurcation.” Detailed reports department-wise will be prepared and presented before the next meeting of the GoM on November 7.
The TDP MPs demanded that the meeting should not be held unless the matter was first discussed with the agitating people of Seemandhra region in Andhra Pradesh. They said there is no one in the GoM who clearly understands the grievances and demands of Seemandhra people. The MPs while speaking to reporters demanded the GoM to visit Andhra Pradesh and not take decisions “sitting in air-conditioned rooms.” Kristappa evaded a question as to whether TDP was supporting the bifurcation and merely said “we want justice for Andhra Pradesh.”
The high-powered ministerial panel, which also received about 2000 emails on bifurcation has to examine all legal and administrative issues requiring resolution at Central and state level to ensure both Telangana and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh function efficiently from common Capital Hyderabad for 10 years.