Telangana was not served, says Kiran Kumar Reddy

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy said on Thursday that the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Bill — 2013 had only been placed in the Assembly, it had not been introduced.

He added that the state Assembly and Legislative Council would decide whether the Telugu people would remain united or be divided.

Speaking to the media at his chambers in the Assembly after the House was adjourned, the CM said that the Bill should be introduced by the government in the Assembly as has been the norm in other states.

He pointed out that there was no procedure regarding how to proceed with the Telangana Bill in the Assembly and the members had many doubts as the Speaker and the Council Chairman had not clarified what procedure they were adopting regarding the Bill.

He added that the debate should be within the framework of the Constitution, its rules, traditions and conventions and the Speaker and Council Chairman should study what procedures were adopted by the other states when they were bifurcated.

Kiran disowns bulletin on T

N. Vamsi Srinivas | DC

Hyderabad: The controversy over the debate on Telangana Bill took a new twist with Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy feigning ignorance about a bulletin issued in his name on Thursday fixing schedule for a debate.

The Assembly secretariat circulated a two-page “report on the decisions of the Business Advisory Committee” taken on December 17 to all MLAs. The report was dated December 17.

At a press conference, the CM said he “did not know at all” about the report. When the media brought to his notice that it was issued in his name and in the capacity of Leader of the House, the CM took a copy from a reporter, read it, and reiterated that he was unaware of the report.

Next: New states a necessity, says Prez

New states a necessity, says Prez

 
Hyderabad: Pro-Telangana leaders welcomed President Pranab Mukherjee’s statement supporting the state’s bifurcation made just before he arrived in Hyderabad on Thursday for a 10-day winter camp.

At an intelligence agencies conference in Delhi before he left for Hyderabad, Mukherjee said the growing population of states and their demands made it necessary to create new states. However, he said that the government should be very careful when dividing states. It should take political and administrative issues into consideration before making the decision.

The President’s comments had special resonance in AP which is going through the state division process. Telan-gana and Seemandhra ministers, MLAs and other political leaders have decided to meet the President to inform him of their views on the bifurcation issue.

T netas to meet Prez, lodge complaints

Telangana politicians will lodge a complaint against Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy who they allege is delaying the debate on the Telangana Bill in the Assembly. The Seemandhra politicians want to meet the President to tell him that the Telangana Bill is incomplete.

Telangana Rashtra Samiti leaders will also meet the President separately.

Next: CM favours T debate

CM favours T debate

 
Hyderabad: Both Houses of the AP legislature, Council and Assembly, were adjourned to January 3 on Thursday without debating the AP Reorganisation Bill-2013.

Despite appeals by Council chairman A. Chakrapani, and Speaker N. Manohar to respective members to allow the proceedings, Seemandhra legislators were in no mood to listen.

In the Assembly, YSR Congress members placed cauliflowers on the Speaker’s podium. Manohar was visibly upset and asked the members to upkeep the dignity of House.

Though the ruling party floor managers said that Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, would make an important announcement in the Assembly, he did not do so.

The Chief Minister, however, spoke briefly in the Council, where he appealed to members to maintain restraint and extend mutual respect, keeping in view the sensitivity attached to the bifurcation. Though he preferred a debate on the Bill in both Houses, he urged the Council chairman to first announce the procedure to be followed to debate on the Bill.

 Reddy wanted the presiding authorities to study the method of debate adopted in the Assemblies of UP, Bihar and MP during division. He also proposed that another round of Business Advisory Committee meeting should be held to finalise the procedure for debate.

Leader of Opposition in Council Y. Ramakrishnudu intervened and sought a clarification from the CM on whether the debate on the Telangana Bill had been initiated and if so, what the schedule for it was. There was no clarity in what the CM was saying, he pointed out.

A din in the Council followed this, forcing its adjournment.

In the Assembly, the Speaker announced that “with the consent of the House”, it had been decided to meet again on January 3 and immediately adjourned proceedings. Normally, the Speaker adjourns sine die if the House cannot be reconvened in five days.

Next: Kiran fights it out, seeks same rules for all states

Kiran fights it out, seeks same rules for all states

 
Hyderabad: Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy said on Thursday that while the other states had passed resolutions on bifurcation, no such resolution had been passed in AP. He added that the rules were the same for the Congress and BJP-ruled states.

He pointed out that the Bihar Assembly had defeated the State Bifurcation Bill in 1998, though it had passed it in 2000. “There is lack of information on many issues regarding the Telangana Bill. Without complete information, how will the members give their opinion?” the CM asked.

He said that he had sent a note to Council chairman on the proceedings of the UP Assembly on state division.

During the BAC meeting on December 17, Speaker N. Manohar had said that he would announce the procedure to be adopted in the House on the Telangana Bill in one or two days. He had said that members had the right to vote on any Bill.

When asked how the Telangana Bill was different, the Speaker had said that he had exempted some rules of the Assembly. To this Kiran Kumar Reddy, said, “If the state Assembly’s rules are exempted, then what rules will we follow to discuss the Bill?”

The CM said that a few MLAs had given him a note asking about details of the Telangana Bill and he had forwarded it to the Centre.

He added that the Bill had no aims or financial memorandum, which were mandatory requirements and said that “expressing views” meant voting. “Without voting, how can the Assembly convey its views?” he asked.

Stating that there was time before the last ball was bowled, the CM said that he sticks to his earlier statement that while he cannot stop a cyclone, he could stop the state’s bifurcation.

“I’m a fighter, I’ve never given up throughout my life,” he said, denying that he had reached a compromise with the Congress high command on the division.