Govt trying to arrive at consensus on Telangana: PM

New Delhi, Feb 16 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singhtoday said the government was trying to arrive at a consensuson the "complicated" Telangana statehood issue throughconsultations with political parties, which should be allowedto be pursued to its "logical conclusion".

Singh said Home Minister P Chidambaram will hold thesecond round of consultations with political parties in AndhraPradesh on the report of the Justice Srikrishna Committee,which has dealt with the contentious statehood demand.

"I think this is a complicated issue and we are trying toevolve a consensus. The Home Minister had one round of meetingwith all the political parties. He will call these politicalparties again because the first round was just for handingthem over the Srikrishna Committee report," he told televisioneditors during an interaction here.

Chidambaram had on January six held a meeting withpolitical parties from the state and handed over to them acopy of the Srikrishna Committee report, which has favoured aunited Andhra Pradesh with constitutional and statutory powersto the Telangana region.

"Now the (political parties) are studying it and afterthat will come the phase of consultations with all politicalparties who are active in Andhra Pradesh. That process must beallowed to be pursued to its logical conclusion," he said.

When asked what would be the government''s stand if aconsensus is not arrived at, the Prime Minister said, "I can''tanswer that hypothetical question. We will cross the bridgewhen we reach there." PTI ETB SC