Initiating the consultations on the demands for a separate state of Telangana with the eight recognised political parties of Andhra Pradesh, Union home minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday, in an apparent reference to the Naxalites, cautioned of ?forces waiting on the wings? who would be happy if the Centre and the state collectively failed to find answers to the issue.
?I wish to caution all political parties that there are forces waiting on the wings, who ridicule the parliamentary form of democracy and who would be happy if we collectively fail to find answers to the issues that concern us, and we should not give any room for these forces to gain strength or credence,? Chidambaram said.
Tuesday?s meeting, which remained inconclusive, was attended by representatives of the Congress, BJP, Praja Rajyam Party, Telugu Desam Party, Telangana Rashtra Samiti, CPI(M), AIMIM and CPI.
Underlining the importance of restoring normalcy in Andhra Pradesh, Chidambaram said that there must be a halt to agitations and bandhs and the law and order must be maintained. ?The government must be able to focus on development and the welfare of the people. It is in the interest of all sections of the people of AP that peace and harmony prevail while the consultations take place,? he said.
Seeking to clear the air on some of the ?misconceptions surrounding the issues?, Chidambaram said, ?There is a misconception that the Centre acted in haste; that the political parties were not consulted; and that I, as home minister, acted as an individual. None of these misconceptions is supported by facts, but I shall not waste your time refuting these misconceptions.?
Chidambaram also said that the Centre was concerned when an agitation was started in November, 2009 demanding a separate state of Telangana. ?Quite rightly, the political parties in Andhra Pradesh were the first responders to the agitation. You are aware of the proceedings of the Business Advisory Committee of the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly on December 7, 2009 followed by the proceedings of the all party meeting convened by the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh later in the evening of the same day. I wish to reiterate that the first statement on behalf of the Centre was made on the basis of the minutes of the all party meeting held on December 7, 2009,? he said in his opening remarks.
Admitting that the situation on the ground had ?altered significantly since the all party meeting of December 7, 2009 and the first statement on behalf of the Centre on December 9, 2009?, the home minister said that Tuesday?s meeting was to ?deliberate on the mechanism and lay down a road map for the consultations.?
He also urged the political parties to show ?accommodation and goodwill?. ?Ultimately, you must find the answers and you must help the Centre find a solution. The agenda for this meeting may appear limited, but I am confident that if we take one step at a time we will, eventually, find a solution.? he said.
?We have expressed our views at the meeting and they have been noted by the Centre,? the representative of the eight political parties later said in a joint statement.