Telangana can wait as Cong is yet to decide on Jagan issue

Hyderabad, Jan 24: Notwithstanding the remark of Ghulam Nabi Azad, the decision on

hinges on Jagan (YS Jaganmohan Reddy) issue and how the

deals with him. Since the Congress is yet to take a call on Jagan, the decision on Telangana is going to be delayed.

There was no decision yet on Jagan during the trial of YSR Congress chief in Hyderabad court. The CBI has told the AP High Court that it was unable to speed up the investigation into Jagan's case owing to the non-cooperation of the state government. If the Congress government wishes, it can provide all assistance to the CBI and fix Jagan. But it looks like Jagan may emerge as a strong move in the game of Telangana formation.

Jagan's counsel S Niranjan Reddy arguing for the bail had earlier complained that the investigation seemed to be never-ending and in the name of incomplete investigation, the bail cannot be denied. The High Court today dismissed the regular bail petition of Jagan in connection with an alleged disproportionate assets case involving him. The central agency has so far filed four charge sheets against Jagan and others in as many cases.

Yesterday, the Congress party gave enough indications that it was likely to put off the much-awaited decision on the Telangana state formation and it may not make an announcement by Jan 28, the deadline fixed by the home ministry to resolve the issue.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Health Minister who is also in charge of the party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, said, "Just because Shinde (Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde) said it would be resolved within a month does not mean the party will announce a decision within 30 days. If somebody says it would be solved within a week, it does not mean just seven days. It can be even two weeks. We cannot take a decision under pressure from the media or political parties. We are still continuing negotiations and we will take a decision as early as possible."

Azad made this clear in New Delhi after attending a meeting convened by party president Sonia Gandhi with senior leaders at her residence 10 Janpath on Wednesday evening. Apart from Azad, the meeting was attended by Sonia's political advisor Ahmed Patel, AICC observer for Andhra Pradesh Vayalar Ravi and Sushil Kumar Shinde.

Referring to the one-month deadline announced by Shinde at an all-party meeting convened by him on Dec 28, Azad said the party would need some more time to resolve the Telangana issue, which was the most important and sensitive issue for the party. Ahmed Patel also told the media that the party had not taken a final decision on Telangana and it would take another three or four meetings to finalise the decision.

Sonia Gandhi has called for another round of meeting today.

OneIndia news