Azad rules out possibility of President's rule in Andhra Pradesh

New Delhi, Oct 8 (ANI): As the Centre grapples with the Telangana crisis, Union Health Minister and Congress in-charge for Andhra Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday ruled out the possibility of President's rule in the state.

"Why should it have a Presidents rule? Where is the question of any Presidents rule?" Azad told media persons after a high-level meeting of the Union Cabinet.

Meanwhile, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Jaipal Reddy, who hails from the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, said he had no knowledge of the possibility of Presidents rule in the state.

"There was no mention of President's rule in front of me and hence I cannot comment on the matter," said Reddy.

"I have spoken to my fellow cabinet colleagues on the current situation in Andhra Pradesh. I have given my transparent and thorough assessment on situation in Andhra Pradesh. But my interaction with the party group, the selected group of people, I cannot reveal to the media," he added.

Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh earlier in the day and is understood to have briefed him about the situation in the agitation-hit region.

Narasimhan, who arrive in New Delhi on Friday evening, met Dr. Singh at his official 7, Race Course Road residence during which the two are believed to have discussed the Telangana statehood demand issue at length.

The meeting assumes significance as the general strike in Telangana region entered the 27th day on Saturday.

Narasimhan earlier met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and briefed him about the developments in the state.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy is also scheduled to meet Dr. Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee over the issue.

Pro-Telangana activists have stepped up their efforts for the four-decade-old demand of a separate state, which is sought to be carved out of the economically less developed parts of Andhra Pradesh.

The struggle gathered momentum last year after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government had accepted their demand in principle.

Several protests and shutdowns had brought Andhra Pradesh to a near halt in 2009 and 2010, as pro-Telangana activists persisted with their demand. (ANI)