New Delhi, Dec.23 (ANI): Faced with a situation where the initial consensus on formation of Telangana looks vanishing steadily, the United Progressive Alliance Government on Wednesday decided to put on hold its decision to initiate process of carving out a State out of Andhra Pradesh.

Addressing media in the national capital Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram informed about the Centre’s decision to put the decision for creation of Telangana on hold saying the government believes the issue needs to undergo a wider consultative process among all political parties and concerned groups first in the wake of altered situation in the Andhra Pradesh.

“There was a consensus emerged on the issue of Telanaga in the all-party meeting on Dec.7 in the Chief Minister’s meeting, based on that the Centre initiated the process of formation. However, the situation altered later. Now the Centre felt that there is more need to involve more political parties and concerned groups…….it is necessary to restore the peace and harmony in the State and allow the government to initiate the development activities. I appeal to all the agitating political parties and students to maintain peace and harmony and allow the government to function. We need some more time to study the situation before taking decision on Telangana,” said Chidambaram.

K. Chandrashekhar Rao earlier in the day urged the Government, Prime Minister “to immediately initiate the process of constitution of Telangana.

“The Congress has created a royal mess and it will hit Andhra,” said BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy in reaction to Government’s latest U-turn on Telangana. (ANI)