India: Congress party to decide on demand of separate state soon

Federal Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday, who has been holding discussions with political parties and various stakeholders from the region, refused to spell out time-line on the issue.“We had a wide range of consultations at the national level. The Congress’ leadership and the Congress Party are for the early resolution of the Telangana issue. An issue, which has been there for a long time,” Azad told reporters.“We would like to decide as soon as possible but yet I wouldnt like to give any time-line. I cant say before the winter session or after the winter session (of Parliament),” added Azad. The India’s Health Minister urged the provincial government employees of Telangana region, who have been agitating for almost five weeks, to call of their strike in view of upcoming Hindu festival Diwali (festival of lights).“People are going to face a lot of hardship. So keeping in view the problems and hardships being faced by the public in general, particularly during festival days, I would like to appeal to employees of Telangana to call off the strike,” added Azad.Normal life has been crippled in southern Hyderabad city as public transport goes off the roads after the protesters call for shutdown to press their demand. The Telangana region merged with southern Andhra Pradesh province in 1956 when the states were re-organised on the basis of language.Consequently, there were series of agitations for the formation of separate Telangana during the late 60s and early 70s.This struggle gained further momentum during 2009 and 2010, forcing the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government in New Delhi to accept the demands of Telangana leaders in principle.