Cabinet approves creation of Telangana
The Centre on Thursday took the first significant step towards
creation of a separate Telangana state from out of Andhra Pradesh and
decided that Hyderabad will be the joint capital of the two states for
10 years.
Over two months after the Congress Working Committee put its seal of
approval, the Union Cabinet approved the proposal of the Home Ministry
for creation of the 29th state and decided to set up a Group of
Ministers (GoM) to work out modalities.
Also read: Telangana expected to see light of the day in six months
“The Cabinet has given its approval for the creation of a new state
of Telangana,” Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters after the
meeting that lasted more than two hours.
He said it was decided that Hyderabad will be the common capital of the two bifucated states for 10 years.
After the creation of the new state, the security and guarantees
including fundamental rights of the people of coastal Andhra,
Rayalaseema and Telangana will be ensured, he said.
The Cabinet approved a GoM that will go into the issue of a special
financial disbursement that may be required from the central government
for the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh, for building its capital and
to cater to special needs of the backward regions.
The new state will have a geographical area of 10 of the 23 districts of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
Today’s decision brings to fruition the announcement made by the then
Home Minister P Chidambaram on December 9, 2009 for creation of
Telangana.
The Cabinet took the momentous decision despite stiff opposition from
within Congress leaders from Seemandhra region, including Chief
Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and Union Ministers and MPs. Some of them
even hreatened to quit.
