No resolution now on Telangana: Andhra CM

Ruling out tabling a resolution for creation of separate Telangana in the Assembly immediately, Andhra Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Saturday said he was astonished, surprised and anguished by Union Home Minister PChidambaram's statement on initiating steps for creation of a new state.

He said he discussed with the high command the issue of Telangana but he had told them that to pass a resolution in the assembly was difficult and he had expressed his "fears".

"There was preparation but to my astonishment, to my surprise and anguish, the so-called statement issued by Chidambaram has created a sort of flutter among the youth of coastal areas of Rayalaseema starting from Srikakulam up to Tirupati to Kadapa," he told NDTV.

On his discussions with the Congress leadership and the prime minister on Wednesday and whether the decision was taken to announce creation of Telangana, Rosaiah said, "No, we discussed. I said to move a resolution and to pass it is very difficult.

"I can't assure you that the resolution will be passed because the number is most important. Cutting across the party lines, the agitation will take a turn. So, I expressed my fear to the Congress leadership."

Asked whether no resolution will be moved in the assembly, Rosaiah said, "No, there is no resolution. Nothing has been said to me on paper."

"What Chidambaramji has ultimately told me is that we will discuss at an appropriate time. We will have to initiate moving a step further on this Telangana issue, perhaps the state legislature may have to pass a resolution. I said, it is not in my hands."

He said his understanding was even today till this second was that he had no communication from Chidambaram asking him to move this resolution.

On Home Secretary G K Pillai's comment on Hyderabad being the capital of Telangana, he said he thought the home secretary had no proper brief.

"I don't know how a responsible person like him said this. It is astonishing for me."

The chief minister said he would not call Telangana Rashtra Samiti Chief Chandrasekhar Rao's fast unto death as political blackmail and similarly he would not bracket the resignation by MPs and MLAs as stage-managed.

He said a resolution would have to be found but with emotions running high, it would be very difficult. Asked whether the issue was being put on the backburner, he said, "No, no, not like that. It is under consideration, what to do and how to go about it."