Special Correspondent

Lok Satta chief urges Prime Minister to ensure equity for people of all regions

‘Centre now has to work on building a consensus with all stakeholders’

Article 371 D can be used to provide a solution to the imbroglio: LSP chief

HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed to Lok Satta Party president Jayaprakash Narayan on Wednesday his anguish over the political parties backtracking on supporting the resolution on Telangana thus leading to a political mess in the State.

Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, who called on the Prime Minister in New Delhi to discuss the sensitive situation in the State, said the Centre was given an impression by all major political parties that they would back the resolution on Telangana. He told this correspondent that the Prime Minister was distressed over the change in their stance after the Centre’s announcement on initiation of process for formation of Telanagana State.

The Lok Satta chief urged the Prime Minister for measures to restore peace and ensure equity for people of all regions.

As the Centre had made a declaration of its intent, it would now have to work on building a consensus with all the stakeholders as in a federal democracy, nothing could be forced.

Even while working for the consensus, Centre should launch a series of aggressive measures to address concerns of people in all regions. Once a political consensus was reached, the Constitution could be amended, Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan said.

Gives suggestion

He also said that Article 371 D, a special provision only for Andhra Pradesh, could be used to provide a solution to the current imbroglio by creating and empowering district councils, regional committees with powers to legislators and announcing special package and set an example.

The Prime Minister, who is leaving for Copenhagen may look into his suggestions after his return to the capital on December 21, the Lok Satta president said.