New Delhi: The cabinet yesterday formally decided to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh to carve out Telangana as India’s 29th state.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde announced after a nearly two-hour cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that a decision was taken to split Andhra Pradesh to create Telangana.
According to the decision taken in line with the July 30 resolution of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Telangana will comprise 10 districts with Hyderabad as the joint capital of both states for 10 years.
The cabinet also decided to set up a group of ministers (GoM) to address issues arising out of bifurcation.
“The group of ministers will determine the mechanism to ensure appropriate legal and administrative measures for both successive state governments to function from the common capital of Hyderabad for 10 years and to ensure the safety and security of residents in all three regions of coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana including guarantees of fundamental rights,” Shinde said
He said the GoM will work out special financial disbursement for the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh for formation of new capital and to meet special needs of backward regions and districts.
The government is now likely to send a resolution to President Pranab Mukherjee, who will refer it to the Andhra Pradesh assembly.
A bill for formation of Telangana state is likely to be tabled in the winter session of parliament.
Of the three cabinet ministers from Seemandhra (Rayalseema and coastal Andhra), two, Pallam Raju and K S Rao, attended the cabinet meeting and they reportedly registered their dissent over the note submitted by the home minister.
The cabinet decision triggered fresh protests in Seemandhra. IANS
