 "Jaipal Reddy meets Sonia Gandhi over Telangana")
With the central government busy giving final touches to the draft bill for formation of Telangana state, union Science and Technology Minister S. Jaipal Reddy Monday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the national capital.
The Congress president is understood have discussed Telangana issue in view of the strong demand from Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra) leaders for union territory status to Hyderabad and also suggestions for a Rayala-Telangana state.
The meeting came at a time when the Group of Ministers (GoM), looking into various issues related to bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, is drafting its report to the union cabinet. The GoM's recommendations will be incorporated in the draft bill.
After the meeting with Gandhi, Jaipal Reddy exuded confidence that the bill would be tabled during the winter session of parliament next month.
While declining to reveal what transpired at the meeting, he said a constitutional amendment was not required to place any restrictions on Hyderabad.
Sources in Congress said that he conveyed his strong opposition to the demand for union territory status to Hyderabad.
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The senior leader is believed to have given his suggestions over the demands from a section of leaders for Rayala-Telangana, comprising 10 districts of Telangana and two or four districts of Rayalaseema.
The central government is eliciting views of various parties over the idea of Rayala-Telangana. Pro-Telangana groups are opposing the suggestion.
M. Narasimhulu, a leader of opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP), alleged that idea of Rayala-Telangana was mooted by Congress party to stall formation of Telangana state.