Thaindian News

Hyderabad, Jan 6 (IANS) The Srikrishna Committee has in its report found that there is a case both for formation of a separate Telangana state as well as for keeping Andhra Pradesh united.The five-member committee, whose report was made public Thursday, felt the balance tilting in favour of keeping the state united but suggested that the demand for Telangana state is also not unjustified.

“At the end of the investigation, it began to appear that there was a case both for a separate Telangana as well as for keeping the state united. Some other options, particularly bringing into focus the issue of backwardness of Rayalaseema region and some other parts of the state, were also suggested by different stakeholders and these too have been examined,” says the report.

“After considering all aspects, the committee found the balance tilting in favour of keeping the state united, though some valid and strong reasons that had continued to cause discontent in Telangana region since its merger indicated that the demand for separation was also not entirely unjustified.”

Telangana, comprising 10 districts including Hyderabad, was part of the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad. It was merged with then Andhra state in 1956 to form Andhra Pradesh, the first linguistic (Telugu) state.

The 461-page report of the Srikrishna Committee comprises two volumes and nine chapters. The chapters cover issues like developments in Andhra Pradesh - A historical background, regional economic and equity analysis, education and health, water resources, irrigation and power development, public employment issues, issues relating to Hyderabad Metropolis, sociological and cultural issues, and law and order, and internal security dimensions. The last chapter titled “The way forward” suggests six optimal solutions/options.

The committee headed by former Supreme Court judge B.N. Srikrishna said it has not been an easy task. “The mandate for the committee entailed voluminous research work and wide consultations with all stakeholders. During these consultations, the committee discussed with political parties and concerned groups all events of a serious historical, political, economic, social and cultural significance pertaining to the state of Andhra Pradesh since the country’s independence.”

The committee was constituted Feb 3, 2010. Former union home secretary V.K. Duggal was its member secretary. The other members were Ranbir Singh, Vice Chancellor, National Law University, Delhi; Abusaleh Shariff, Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute, Delhi; and Ravinder Kaur, professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.