New Delhi: Dismissing the charge of "flip- flop" on the part of Centre on Telangana issue, Home Minister
P Chidambaram today said the January 5 meeting of political
parties from Andhra Pradesh is to devise a "mechanism and
roadmap" on resolving the problem.
"The January 5 meeting is the first step in the
consultations. In the first step we have called the
recognised parties in the state to devise a mechanism and a
roadmap (on the issue," he told a press conference, the state
chief minister has been invited to the meeting in his official
capacity.
He said as the consultation process progresses the
issue of involving people beyond the 8 recognised parties
could be thought of.
Referring to the two statments he had made on Dec 9
and Dec 23 on the issue of separate Telangana, Chidambaram
said there has been criticism that there has been a flip-flop
on the part of the Central government.
"There was no no flip-flop on the part of the Central
government, which simply responded to the situation in Andhra
Pradesh. We simply resonded to the wishes of the people of
Andhra Pradesh. I hope you don't call the Jan 5 meeitng a
flip-flop," he said.
Situation in Lalgarh 'pretty depressing'
Home Minister P Chidambaram today
expressed concerns over the "pretty depressing" situation in
Lalgarh, the Maoist stronghold in West Bengal where the state
government has failed to contain the movement of the ultras.
"I am disappointed over the Lalgarh situation...The
situation is pretty depressing...despite adequate number (of)
Central paramilitary forces (being) sent to them in June 2009,
the West Bengal government has not been able to contain the
problem," Chidambaram told reporters during his monthly
interaction here.
The Centre had in June dispatched about 2500 personnel of
Central forces to contain the agitation of tribals backed by
Maoists, who have been protesting against alleged police
excesses on villagers.
Recently there has been a spate of incidents of arson and
killing in the area.
Unhappy with way Ruchika case was handled
Home Minister P Chidambaram today
said he was unhappy on the way charges were framed and the
trial was conducted in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case
and promised to look into what the government can do in the
matter.
"As Home Minister, I cannot pronounce any judgement. I am
very unhappy with the way the charges were framed and the way
the trial was conducted and the way the accused has been
punished. I am unhappy," he told a press conference here a day
after the family of the girl met him along with their lawyer.
He said the family told him that they have filed two
complaints relating to the harassement of her brother Ashu and
botching up of the post-mortem report.
"Now, they are planning to file another FIR on charge of
abetment to suicide," he said adding that he has told the
family that he would look into what the government could do.
Good news for people of northeast in coming days
Voicing confidence over talks
with northeast militant groups, Home Minister P Chidambaram
today said there would be "good news" for the people of the
region in the days to come.
"I am confident that there will be good news in the days
to come," he said at a press conference here when asked about
militancy in the northeast.
Chidambaram said the government has made significant
gains with regard to the ULFA militants and talks were at an
"advanced stage" with two or three other groups in the region.
"All but two or three leaders are in custody and we have
offered talks to them if they give up the demand of soverignty
and lay down arms. As far as the two or three ULFA leaders who
are still not within our reach, I am confident that there will
be good news in the days to come," he added.