New Delhi : Core committee meeting is being watched by millions of eyes all over not only Andhra Pradesh, but also of states where there are statehood demands. Here are some of the highlights……

Knife to Damodara

Osmania University students JAC leaders presented a knife to the Deputy Chief Minister Damodara Raja Narasimha and painted ‘Veera Tilakam’ on his forehead, wishing him success in his fight for Telangana.

Botsa, CM in same car

The Chief Minister and the PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana came to the Prime Minister’s official residence where the core committee meeting was held in the same car.

CM, Botsa and Damodara met AICC state affairs incharge Digvijay Singh and former incharge Ghulam Nabi Azad, before proceeding to the Prime Minister’s residence.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi came to the PM’s residence shortly after Damodara arrived.

Sonia Gandhi, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, union ministers A K Antony, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Congress senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Digvijay Singh, Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Damodara Raja Narasimha and PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana participated in the meeting.

Andhra, Osmania students arrested

Police had a tough time in controlling the students of Andhra and Telangana.
Leaders of both the Osmania University JAC and Andhra University JAC reached the Prime Minister’s residence with placards and raised slogans for and against Telangana.

As it is a high security area, police swooped and arrested them. They were removed to the police station.

Only after three months

Minister T G Venkatesh said there would be no decision on Telangana now. He said if at all any decision has to be taken, it would be only after 3 months. He has expressed the view that the party would incorporate whatever its decision in the election manifesto and then implement it after the elections.

He also expressed the hope that the Congress high command would not resort to division of the state.

No division now says Anam

Congress MLA Anam Vivekananda Reddy said there would be no decision to create Telangana now. He said though new states could be created without constitution amendment, it would not apply to Andhra Pradesh. He said after the Telangana agitation in 1969 and Andhra Agitation in 1972, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi brought the 32nd amendment to the constitution, bringing articles 371 D and 371 E which gave special status to Hyderabad. It was under this special status that a central university was set up in Hyderabad. He said now to take a decision about Hyderabad, there was need to get the constitution amended in the Parliament which not only requires two thirds majority in the Parliament, but also concurrence of 50 percent of the states. He is positive that the state would not be divided.