Hectic discussions are going on in New Delhi whether to give 6, 12 or 18 months for the Telangana panel. According to the sources that Chidambaram initially thought of giving 18 months as the time frame for the panel. Even this was echoed by the panel's members like Ravinder Kaur who claimed that the panel would have 18 months long.

However the Telangana Congress leaders indicated to the home minister that 18 months would be seen as too long by the Telangana people. They proposed 6 months as the time frame. However Chidambaram is against giving 6 months since he himself clearly knows that the panel is only for 'discussions' and the present Telangana turmoil would again come back in 6 months.

Now the sources indicate that the first choice would be giving 12 months time frame. But the final decision on the same is not taken yet.

Sources said the ToR (terms of reference) has been finalised by the home ministry in consultation with the chairman of the committee justice (Retd) BN Srikrishna and member-secretary Vinod K Duggal but it will be announced only when the Core Group of the Congress party gives its approval.

"It is a very sensitive issue. We have to be careful in every step. So we are trying our best to look into all angles before the terms of reference are announced," an official said.

Date : 09/02/2010. News by Newsofap.com