Telangana to be created in 6 months, 15 Andhra MLAs resign
Times of India, Aug 1, 2013
NEW DELHI: Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Thursday said the the new state of Telangana would be in place in less than six months, and that the government hoped to bring the Andhra Pradesh reorganization bill before Parliament in the winter session.
The government, in a bid to expedite the statehood process, plans to go for an in-principle Cabinet approval for creation of the 29th state right away, rather than wait for the Andhra Pradesh legislature to initiate the process by passing a resolution to that effect.
Stating that a prior resolution from the state assembly was not mandatory, Shinde said the alternate route of a direct in-principle Cabinet nod and constitution of a group of ministers to work out the modalities of Andhra Pradesh's division, was faster and in keeping with the procedure prescribed under the Constitution.
"The issue has already been discussed in the state assembly. It was examined in 2009 by a committee of MLAs/MLCs headed by the then finance minister P Rosaiah. Besides, many resolutions seeking creation of other states have been pending with the Union home ministry for years. In fact, the resolution on Vidarbha has been sent to the Centre twice or thrice over the last three decades," Shinde told reporters at a press meet here to showcase the report card for his first year in the home ministry.
"The point I am making is that the assembly resolution may only delay matters. Hence, the government prefers the second route - of getting a direct in-principle approval for formation of a 29th state," he later told TOI.
The GoM's recommendations are expected to be in next month. The MHA will take a call on the GoM's recommendations and put together the Cabinet note for reorganization of Andhra Pradesh. Once the draft reorganization bill is cleared by Cabinet, the President will send it to the Andhra Pradesh legislature for approval. The state can suggest changes, but these would not be binding. The Cabinet will finally approve the revised bill, and the government hopes to take it up in Parliament in the winter session.
Meanwhile, Shinde revealed that though the demand for Vidarbha was also raised during the CWC meet that cleared Telangana, the party leadership chose to give preference to the latter as the movement for the new southern state preceded the Vidarbha agitation.
Acknowledging the protests and spate of resignations by politicians across Rayalaseema and Seemandhra, Shinde said that though they had the right to agitate, the Congress had already taken the decision to create Telangana based on consensus that emerged at the all-party meeting convened by him in December 2012, where only two parties opposed Telangana.
Asked about the renewed demands and protests for smaller states across the country, the home minister said he was mindful of these and made it a point to lend an ear to their leaders. Appealing to the leaders of various statehood agitations, Shinde requested them to agitate peacefully, through democratic means. "I appeal to all to maintain peace ... the government will listen to you," he re-assured the leaders but rules out any proposal yet for setting up of a states' reorganization commission
IANS reports from Hyderabad
At least 15 legislators from Rayalaseema and Andhra regions of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday submitted their resignations to protest the Congress's decision to carve out Telangana state. While eight legislators including senior leaders JC Diwakar Reddy and Gade Venkat Reddy submitted their resignations to the legislature secretary at the assembly, two lawmakers submitted their letters to state Congress president.
Five other legislators including one from the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) faxed their resignation letters to the speaker's office.
Two members of legislative council have also submitted their resignation to the chairman.
Diwakar Reddy told reporters at the assembly that they submitted their resignations in deference to the sentiments of the people of Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra). He said they would now join the people's movement for keeping the state united. Earlier, as many as 15 ministers and 26 legislators of the Congress party decided to submit resignations. They met at the ministers' quarters here to chalk out their future course of action.
The leaders demanded that Congress working committee (CWC) reconsider its decision to carve out Telangana state.
An MP and six legislators had submitted their resignations on Monday, when Congress Working Committee took the decision to split the state. Sixteen of the 17 legislators of YSR Congress party from Seemandhra had last week resigned to thwart any move by the Centre to carve out Telangana state.
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Times of India, Aug 1, 2013
NEW DELHI: Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Thursday said the the new state of Telangana would be in place in less than six months, and that the government hoped to bring the Andhra Pradesh reorganization bill before Parliament in the winter session.
The government, in a bid to expedite the statehood process, plans to go for an in-principle Cabinet approval for creation of the 29th state right away, rather than wait for the Andhra Pradesh legislature to initiate the process by passing a resolution to that effect.
Stating that a prior resolution from the state assembly was not mandatory, Shinde said the alternate route of a direct in-principle Cabinet nod and constitution of a group of ministers to work out the modalities of Andhra Pradesh's division, was faster and in keeping with the procedure prescribed under the Constitution.
"The issue has already been discussed in the state assembly. It was examined in 2009 by a committee of MLAs/MLCs headed by the then finance minister P Rosaiah. Besides, many resolutions seeking creation of other states have been pending with the Union home ministry for years. In fact, the resolution on Vidarbha has been sent to the Centre twice or thrice over the last three decades," Shinde told reporters at a press meet here to showcase the report card for his first year in the home ministry.
"The point I am making is that the assembly resolution may only delay matters. Hence, the government prefers the second route - of getting a direct in-principle approval for formation of a 29th state," he later told TOI.
The GoM's recommendations are expected to be in next month. The MHA will take a call on the GoM's recommendations and put together the Cabinet note for reorganization of Andhra Pradesh. Once the draft reorganization bill is cleared by Cabinet, the President will send it to the Andhra Pradesh legislature for approval. The state can suggest changes, but these would not be binding. The Cabinet will finally approve the revised bill, and the government hopes to take it up in Parliament in the winter session.
Meanwhile, Shinde revealed that though the demand for Vidarbha was also raised during the CWC meet that cleared Telangana, the party leadership chose to give preference to the latter as the movement for the new southern state preceded the Vidarbha agitation.
Acknowledging the protests and spate of resignations by politicians across Rayalaseema and Seemandhra, Shinde said that though they had the right to agitate, the Congress had already taken the decision to create Telangana based on consensus that emerged at the all-party meeting convened by him in December 2012, where only two parties opposed Telangana.
Asked about the renewed demands and protests for smaller states across the country, the home minister said he was mindful of these and made it a point to lend an ear to their leaders. Appealing to the leaders of various statehood agitations, Shinde requested them to agitate peacefully, through democratic means. "I appeal to all to maintain peace ... the government will listen to you," he re-assured the leaders but rules out any proposal yet for setting up of a states' reorganization commission
IANS reports from Hyderabad
At least 15 legislators from Rayalaseema and Andhra regions of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday submitted their resignations to protest the Congress's decision to carve out Telangana state. While eight legislators including senior leaders JC Diwakar Reddy and Gade Venkat Reddy submitted their resignations to the legislature secretary at the assembly, two lawmakers submitted their letters to state Congress president.
Five other legislators including one from the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) faxed their resignation letters to the speaker's office.
Two members of legislative council have also submitted their resignation to the chairman.
Diwakar Reddy told reporters at the assembly that they submitted their resignations in deference to the sentiments of the people of Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra). He said they would now join the people's movement for keeping the state united. Earlier, as many as 15 ministers and 26 legislators of the Congress party decided to submit resignations. They met at the ministers' quarters here to chalk out their future course of action.
The leaders demanded that Congress working committee (CWC) reconsider its decision to carve out Telangana state.
An MP and six legislators had submitted their resignations on Monday, when Congress Working Committee took the decision to split the state. Sixteen of the 17 legislators of YSR Congress party from Seemandhra had last week resigned to thwart any move by the Centre to carve out Telangana state.
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