MHA discusses Telangana fallout with Andhra Pradesh Govt

NEW DELHI: The home ministry on Thursday discussed the possible law and order fallout of the proposed announcement on the Telangana statehood demand by this month end with representatives of the Andhra Pradesh government.

Andhra Pradesh DGP Dinesh Reddy, Chief Secretary Minnie Mathew, state Intelligence chief Mahendra Reddy along with irrigation secretary and the state power secretary met home secretary RK Singh on Thursday and the Centre is believed to have directed the state government to take all possible steps to maintain peace in the state ahead of a announcement expected on the fate of Telangana by the month-end.

Sources say the discussion involved how to handle the repercussions if any announcement, either way, is made and possible implications - both short term as well as long term.

The preparation of the state police was assessed and the Centre had promised additional forces if needed to handle any situation arising out of any announcement by the Centre. The state has also been asked to keep a specific watch on the events in the Osmania University amid intelligence inputs that CPI (Maoist) could be participating in the protests there to create trouble. After an all-party meeting on December 28 last year, home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had said that the government would make an announcement on Telangana within a month.