T-talks agenda not yet finalised: Shinde

Government had promised meeting during Lok Sabha vote on FDI

At a time when the Opposition is accusing the UPA government of not building a consensus on important public legislation, the Union home ministry is yet to start consultations with all political parties ahead of December 28 meeting on the Telangana.

However, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters on Monday he has “not written to political parties” inviting them to discuss the issue of carving out a separate state of Telangana in Andhra radesh. “The chief minister (of Andhra Pradesh) met me on Saturday and gave me a letter saying there is a Telugu conference on (December) 26 to 28. He had requested to postpone the meeting. I have not taken it very seriously. I have to write to all other parties. So far we have not written to any party. Let’s see the response from the parties,” Shinde said.

He also said that he would invite jailed MP and YSR Congress leader Jagan Mohan Reddy as well. Interestingly, the agitating Telangana MPs from the Congress had threatened not to participate in the voting on FDI in retail sector in Parliament, which the government won. The MPs later reportedly agreed after the government convinced them of rolling out the procedure for taking political views on the demand for a separate state.

This would be the third meeting, with two earlier happened on January 5, 2010 and January 6, 2011. The minister said that he agreed to have the meeting after nine to ten MPs from that region met him demanding an early political get together on the issue.

Afzal Guru mercy plea

Shinde also told reporters that the decision to reject mercy petition of Afzal Guru, sentenced to death for 2001 Parliament attack, was taken prior to his becoming minister.

“The file (rejecting his clemency plea) was sent to the President for consideration. But the President sent back to me seven cases (including Guru). When Parliament session is over, I will look into it. I can’t tell you the date,” the minister said when asked to give an update on the status of his petition. Shinde became home minister on August 1.  

Confirming that Pakistan interior minister Rehman Malik was visiting India on Friday, Shinde stated that he would again urge him to hand over terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba mentor Hafiz Sayeed, a free bird in the neighbour’s soil. Sayeed is the brainchild of 26/11 Mumbai attack. But, Islamabad has countered New Delhi’s demand by saying that information they have received from the UPA government lacks evidence to take action against Sayeed.

AFSPA to stay in Kashmir

The controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act will stay in Jammu and Kashmir till the situation is “completely peaceful” in the state, reiterated Shinde