Group of Ministers on Telangana discusses special financial package for Seemandhra

The first meeting of the Group of Ministers on Telangana on Friday deliberated on providing a special financial package for Seemandhra to remove the feeling of anxiety and anger of the region following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Defence Minister AK Antony were not present but the GoM headed by Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde discussed the methodology and approach for the division of Andhra Pradesh. A full meeting of the GoM will be held on October 19. A special financial package for Seemandhra is likely to send a message that the GoM is doing its job with fairness, a member said on condition of anonymity.

Though Shinde had not committed to a deadline for bringing a bill on Telangana, the GoM member said the target was to bring it in the winter session. “The next GoM meeting called on October 19 is an indicator of that,” the member said. It was made clear that the GoM will not visit Andhra Pradesh but will take the opinion of all stakeholders on all important subjects while formulating its recommendations.

“The basis of the GoM discussions will be the Sri Krishna Committee report,” a minister said. It was also stressed that Seemandhra will be helped in finding a new capital as per the wishes of the people of that region. “There is no plan to give Union Territory status to Hyderabad… it will only remain a joint capital for the next ten years,” the member said.

The home ministry in a statement after the meeting said the GoM has finalised the different nodal ministries and departments of the central government to prepare status reports which will be submitted to the GoM on the subjects in the terms of reference. The ministry has asked for feedback related to the terms of reference of the GoM on Telangana, asking citizens to send an e-mail regarding the same to feedbacktogom-mha@nic.in.

Source: Economic Times