Political pressure will not work on me, says Srikrishna

Hyderabad, May 6 : Justice B.N. Srikrishna, who heads a five-member panel formed by the central government to look into the demand for a Telangana state, Thursday said political pressure will not work on him.The former Supreme Court judge, who was here along with other members the panel for consultations with various socio-cultural groups, said this when a reporter asked him if he was under any political pressure. "In all my life nobody including my parents, let alone politicians, dared to pressure me," Srikrishna said. His remarks assume significance in the context of the civil war threat by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and comments by some political leaders that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government would force the committee to give a report of its liking. TRS has warned that there would be civil war if a Telangana state was not carved out after the Srikrishna committee submits its report. The retired judge said the panel would hear the views of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) and Muslim League May 10, 11 and 12. The committee, which has heard the views of TRS, two Left parties and Praja Rajyam Party will hold consultations with the ruling Congress party May 17 and 18. He said Congress leaders from both Andhra and Telangana regions would appear before the committee to submit their arguments. The committee Thursday heard the views of socio-cultural organisations from both Andhra and Telangana regions. On the first day of their two-day visit, the committee heard the arguments by Andhra Intellectuals Forum against state's bifurcation. It also met representatives of Telangana Jagruti and Telangana Writers Association demanding a separate state.
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