Sabitha issue is State's concern : Shinde

Telangana and the rest of the State are sharply divided over the issue, some time is required to evolve political consensus

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Wednesday refused to be drawn into the issue of Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy being charge-sheeted in the Disproportionate Assets (DA) case of YSRCP supremo Y S Jaganmohan Reddy. On the Telangana issue, Shinde said, "it is an old demand that has come down to this government."

Interacting with the media after presenting the Home Ministry's Monthly Report Card, Shinde said that the Sabitha issue is a subject concerning the Andhra Pradesh Government, which has to finally take the stand. The Centre has no role and does not advise or get involved in it, he said. It is for the State Government to take the call, he said.

Since the Congress High Command had decided to crack the whip at the Centre and seek the resignations of Pawan Bansal, who resigned as Railway Minister and Ashwani Kumar, who quit as Law Minister, Shinde was asked what the Centre would do with the case of charge-sheeted Sabitha Indra Reddy. Shinde, however, declined to be drawn into any argument over it.

On the issue of Telangana, Shinde said it was an old demand. It has come down to this Government. He said the Centre has also noted that there is an ongoing agitation in favour of it.A The Centre continues to maintain that a political consensus continues to elude on statehood for Telangana. Since Telangana and the rest of the State are sharply divided over the issue, some time is required to evolve political consensus.