"The bill can only go so far... But unless the political process unites people rather than dividing people, the process of bifurcation will be very very painful," Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said.
A key author of the Telangana draft bill, Ramesh said that the bill makes provision for ensuring that bifurcation is smooth and equitable.
"However, if political parties make political statements, if political parties make, what in my view are, dangerous statements, no bill can instill confidence in the people," said the minister who represents Andhra Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha.
"Political process is very very important. Unfortunately, the statements that have been made by certain leaders have provoked a lot of fear and uncertainty and I feel that now the priority should be to discuss the bill in the Andhra Assembly and it will come back to Parliament," he said.
"Lot of political parties have created lot of fear and uncertainty by their provocative statements. Political parties across the spectrum... Without exception," Ramesh said.