New Delhi, Jan 6 (IANS) Home Minister P. Chidambaram Thursday urged political parties to consider the Srikrishna Committee report on Telangana statehood "with an open mind".

"I would urge you to read the report and the recommendations with an open mind and be prepared to persuade, and to be persuaded by, people who hold another point of view," Chidambaram said in his opening remarks at the meeting of political parties here to discuss the Srikrishna report.

The home minister said he "deeply regretted the stand taken" by some political parties "who have chosen not to attend" the meeting.

"It does scant justice to the valuable work done by the Justice Srikrishna Committee and the report submitted by the committee," he said.

"Nevertheless, I propose to send a copy of the report to the parties that have chosen to stay away," he added.

Among the eight political parties invited, only five - the Congress, the Communist Party of India-Marxist, Communist Party of India, the Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and the Praja Rajyam Party - attended Thursday's meeting.

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) - the influential regional party agitating for a separate Telangana state - the Telugu Desam Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)JP boycotted Thursday's meeting.

"It is the government's sincere hope that the report will generate an informed and mature debate," the home minister told the political leaders.