Telangana is a delicate issue, says cautious Congress

The Congress on Wednesday said the Telangana issue was a very delicate matter and that each step has to be taken after due consultations.

"It is a very delicate matter in which each step has to be taken after consultations," party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan told reporters while replying to a volley of questions on the stand of the party and the way forward on the issue.

On whether the issue had been badly handled by the party, she said, "No".

Natarajan denied that there was a reversal in the stand of the party but claimed that there has been a change in the stance of all parties.

To a query about the resignation of ministers from the Telangana region and the problems in running the government, she said, "We will deal with it. All issues can be solved through dialogue".

On a question about the Bharatiya Janata Party's criticism on handling of the issue, Natarajan said the party did not take the criticism of BJP seriously as it has also changed its stand on the issue. Congress sources, meanwhile, denied setting into motion any process for creation of the second States Reorganisation Commission, saying though the Congress Working Committee had passed a resolution to this effect, there was no consensus on it.

A senior party leader said in the 2004 manifesto of the party, the Congress had talked about the second SRC and consensus.

"When elections were held in 2004, it was a United Progressive Alliance government and not a Congress government. As there was no consensus, the issue of second SRC was not taken up," the leader said.

"We have no objection to Telangana. We are maintaining the stand. Wide ranging consultations are required," the leader pointed out.