Union Minister and in–charge of the AP Congress affairs Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad had reportedly assured the T congress leaders and MPs on Friday that a decision on Telangana would be taken before April 24.

The government would make an announcement in the second budget session of Parliament beginning April 24, according to reports.

Sources said when Azad told them that Seema Andhra congress leaders were not ready to lose Hyderabad, the T congress leaders pointed out that Bombay remained with Maharashtra when Gujarat was formed and Chennai with Tamil Nadu when AP was formed.

Azad reportedly countered it saying Chandigarh remained Union Territory when Haryana was formed. The Congress MPs of the T region however rejected the issue of Chandigarh and argued Hyderabad was part and parcel of Telangana.

Azad promised he would speed up the discussions on the issue and the government would take a quick decision so that it would be announced in the Parliament after April 24.

Later, Azad held discussions with party president Sonia Gandhi in the Lok Sabha and submitted a 3 page report on the issue. (J)