Thaindian News

Hyderabad, Oct 26 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan Tuesday asked the media not to create fear in the minds of the people about what will happen after Dec 31, the deadline for Srikrishna committee to submit its report on the demand for a separate Telangana.

Speaking to reporters in the temple town of Tirupati, he said the situation would remain normal even after Dec 31. “I request you to cooperate with us in our efforts to keep people happy,” Narasimhan said.

The governor’s appeal comes amid media reports that the state could again witness violent protests, strikes and counter-strikes for and against Telangana.

Andhra Pradesh witnessed violent agitations late last year and early this year after the central government announced Dec 9 that the process for formation of Telangana state would be initiated.

That announcement came after a 11-day hunger strike by Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) leader K. Chandrasekhara Rao.

Following counter protests in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, the central government in February set up the Srikrishna committee to look into the demands for and against Telangana state.

Meanwhile, the committee met in New Delhi Tuesday and said it would submit its report by Dec 31.

The committee’s member secretary V.K. Duggal told reporters that the panel was drafting the report.

“We have started our work and the report will be submitted to the central government by Dec 31. It will be either on Dec 31 or before that but not after Dec 31,” said Duggal, a former union home secretary.

The committee headed by former Supreme Court judge B.N. Srikrishna is analysing the material it has gathered. Duggal said the panel was also seeking clarifications from four experts appointed by it to go into various issues.