Justice Srikrishna Committee looking into the issue of demand for a separate Telangana state out of Andhra Pradesh is expected to submit its report to Home Minister P Chidambaram today. The term of the Committee, which was constituted by the Centre on February 3 this year, expires tomorrow.

The Prime Minister Dr Mamnohan Singh on Wednesday discussed with senior cabinet colleagues the situation that may emerge following the submission of the report and the steps to deal with it. The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A K Antony, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Law Minister M Veerappa Moily besides senior government officials.

Mr Chidambaram is understood to have briefed the meeting about the steps being taken by the Home Ministry, including sending 5,000 central para-military force personnel and keeping some more in standby to be deployed in case of any emergency situation.

Meanwhile, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni met Mr Chidambaram and discussed the advisory issued by the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) asking news channels to be “sensitive” while covering the release of the Srikrishna Committee report.

Andhra Pradesh Government has initiated several precautionary measures to maintain law and order in the State in the wake of Justice Srikrishna Committee report. Besides tightening security at all important places, additional forces are being deployed at all problematic areas across the State. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy reviewed the law and order situation in a high level meeting on Wednesday. Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy told the media that the government has taken necessary precautionary steps to maintain law and order in view of several incidents in the past one year. She said there was no need for misconceptions about deployment of additional forces in the State. Adding that the Government has no intension to crush any agitation, she appealed to people of all sections to cooperate in maintaining law and order in the state in coming days.