MOTHKUR (NALGONDA DT.), FEB.2. Contradicting the Telangana Rashtra Samithi president, K. Chandrasekhar Rao's claim that the formation of the separate State is round the corner, the Endowments Minister, M. Satyanarayana Rao, has said that "it will take time.''

Mr. Satyanarayana Rao, who was here to participate in a cultural programme organised by the Ramannapet MLA, Uppunutala Purushottam Reddy, told The Hindu last night that "Madam (the All-India Congress Committee president, Sonia Gandhi) is sympathetically considering the demand for separate State.'' ``Telangana State will be formed along with Harita Pradesh, Bundelkhand and Vidarbha. It is absolutely wrong to say that it will be formed tomorrow or day after tomorrow,'' Mr. Rao said, maintaining that he had told Ms. Gandhi to consider the demand since the party had given the green signal for the formation of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttaranchal.

Congress initiative

``The demand for Telangana State was in fact a forgotten one. After the Congress okayed the formation of the three smaller States, the movement here has gathered momentum,'' Mr. Rao added. The Minister sounded optimistic about the resumption of peace talks between the Government and naxalites. He found fault with a section of police officers for the stalemate. "Very few officers, who have earned crores of rupees trough illegal means and are thinking that their authority is at stake, are against talks. However, the Chief Minister is committed,'' he maintained.

Appeal to naxals

Asked whether temple lands would be distributed among the landless poor, Mr. Rao said: "There is no question of giving our lands and I have made this clear to the Chief Minister. I am appealing to naxalites not to pitch red flags on temple lands. I am heading a ministry which does not enjoy any budgetary support."