HYDERABAD, NOV. 14. The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, said here on Sunday that the Centre would abide by the recommendations of the second States' Reorganisation Commission (SRC), provided it was constituted through the process of consensus.

Elaborating once again on the UPA Government's stand on the Telangana Rashtra Samithi's demand for separate Telangana, Dr. Singh recalled that it had stated explicitly in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) and in the President's address to Parliament that a broad-based consensus had to be evolved on the issue. "We will work to achieve that consensus," he added.

Telugu issue

Addressing a press conference, the Prime Minister said his Government had promised to explore ways to declare all important languages, including Telugu as national languages. It stood by this commitment. On the question of including Telugu as a medium for writing Staff Selection Commission examinations, he said it was a complicated issue and he would look into it.

Asked whether the Congress Government in the State was right in seeking fresh loans for irrigation when the State was already reeling under a huge debt burden, he said there was no harm per se in availing credit. However, the money thus mobilised should be invested prudently in irrigation and power projects.

Earlier, addressing a largely attended public meeting after launching the National Food For Work Programme (NFFWP) at Aloor in Ranga Reddy district, Dr. Singh promised the Centre's help and cooperation for all "people-oriented'' programmes and projects taken up by the State Government.

He was responding to the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy's appeal for support to the ambitious programme of completing 26 irrigation projects including utilising Godavari river water, at a cost of Rs. 46,000 crores in the next five years.

The Union Minister of Rural Development, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, said the NFFWP would help in creating employment and checking migration.

Twin benefits

The Governor, Sushilkumar Shinde, said the new programme had the twin benefits of ensuring access to food and providing employment.

The State Rural Development Minister, D. Srinivas, said the NFFWP would be implemented at a cost of Rs. 127 crores in eight most backward districts. The State Mines and Geology Minister, Sabitha Indra Reddy, spoke.

..Hindu