Andhra Pradesh assembly rejects Telangana bill

A big blow to UPA government and pro-Telengana movement as the Andhra Pradesh assembly on Thursday rejected the draft Bill to create a separate statehood of Telangana. The assembly supported a resolution moved by the Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy against the division of the state.

“The House while rejecting the AP Reorganisation Bill, 2013, resolves to request the President not to recommend it for introduction in Parliament as the Bill seeks to bifurcate the state of Andhra Pradesh without any reason/basis and without arriving at a consensus, in utter disregard to the linguistic and cultural homogeneity and economic and administrative viability of both regions. The Bill also completely ignores the very basis of formation of State of Andhra Pradesh, the first linguistic state created in independent India,” Kiran Kumar Reddy said in the resolution.

Earlier a firm and stern Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy had dared his own party Congress and challenged that he would quit politics if the centre can present the bill to the Parliament in its present form.

To make the matter worse for congress, The TRS had warned of dire consequences if the Telengana is not created before the general elections.

“The role of the assembly in creating a new state, especially in a state this divided, is limited. The president should now take the next step in this process,” KTR Rao said.

“The situation in Andhra Pradesh is well known. We appeal the people of Telangana not to panic. What happened in Assembly is mere formality, we are confident that the bill will be passed by two third majority. The Bill will be introduced in Parliament in February,” a TRS leader told CNN-IBN.

The Telugu Desam Party has expressed its happiness.

“This is not a victory. This is the verdict and the will of the people that is reflected in the House rejecting the resolution,” TDP leader said.

Reacting to the development, senior Congress Renuka Chowdhury said this is a matter of victory or defeat.

“I don’t think this is a matter of victory or defeat. Kiran Reddy is articulating his voices. The Telangana Bill has been passed in Parliament with the best of intention and not to create problems for Seemandhra or Telangana,” said Renuka Chowdhury.

“The Andhra CM is resonating what is the sentiments of Seemandhra. The government will sit and look at it according to the law, constitution and our view. This will go back to the President,” Chowdhury explained.

Now it is up to President Pranab Mukherjee entirely to decide the fate of the bill, whether he will forward the bill to Parliament for discussion or wait till the general election is over, can only be cleared by next week. Will the president, alternatively, refer the bill back to the assembly if any changes are made to the present bill on the ground that the bill modified by the cabinet renders the present bill a mere draft and the modified version thus becomes a new bill.

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