KCR has objections in draft bill

Hyderabad: Telangana Rashtra Samiti president K. Chandrasekhar Rao showered praises on Congress president Sonia Gandhi for making the state of Telangana a reality. It happened because of her commitment, he said.

He does, however, have objections to some provisions of the Draft Bill on Telangana that was approved by the Union Cabinet on Thursday, particularly the provision giving the Governor some powers over the Telangana state government.

Addressing a news conference here on Friday, after a review meeting with key functionaries of the party, Rao said there is no need for people of Seemandhra or anybody else residing in Hyderabad or elsewhere in Telangana to panic, as the TRS considers every one of them a ‘local’ and they are entitled to all benefits.

“Many Telugu people are living in other cities in other states and become locals there and abide by all the laws of that government. Similarly, here also there is no problem. Whoever is living in Hyderabad or elsewhere in Telangana is considered a local. They need not feel insecure,” Rao said.

He was most critical of the clause in the draft bill that gave the Governor of Telangana state power over the state government in the matters of law and order and providing security and safety to citizens in the common capital.

“We want that Telangana state also should exercise all the powers like any elected government. We demand such a clause be removed,” Rao said. He also objected to the clause in the draft bill that allows the existing admission procedure in all educational institutions to continue for 10 years.