New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) The Congress said Wednesday that Telangana was an old issue and it was for the collective political leadership of Andhra Pradesh to resolve the situation that has arisen due to regional divisions over its proposed statehood.
Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari said it was for the “collective wisdom” of Andhra Pradesh leaders across the political spectrum to “sit down and form appropriate solution.”

Answering queries about divisions in its Andhra Pradesh unit on Telangana, Tiwari said that it was an old issue which has been grappled by “generations of leaders of the state.”

He refused to comment on the remarks of Home Minister P Chidambaram, made earlier this month, giving principled clearance to the demand for a separate Telangana state.

Faced with deep divisions in its ranks in the state, the Congress has been trying to come out with a compromise formula to bring down political temperatures. The Congress core group met Monday evening while senior leaders met party president Sonia Gandhi Wednesday to evolve an appropriate response.

Congress sources said that the meeting at Sonia Gandhi’s residence was attended by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A. K. Antony, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Law Minister Veerapa Moily and Ahmed Patel, political secretary to the Congress president.

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psb