Telangana Bill to rock Parliament on Feb 5

New Delhi: The bill on separate Telangana could rock the last session of the 15th Lok Sabha beginning Wednesday with several parties asking the government to first get the Vote on Account passed before taking up any other legislation. At least three parties went to the extent of pitching for a shorter session than the one planned from February 5 to February 21.

As many as 39 bills, including six anti-corruption measures, have been listed in the second phase of the Winter Session. "Congress cannot blame the opposition for disruptions. Congress only has created this situation. The ruling party has become so weak in the country as also inside as its own Chief Minister has sent the bill after rejecting it in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly," Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj told reporters.

After an all-party meeting convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath, several other leaders, including Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) as also Sudip Bandyopadhyay (Trinamool Congress) said that the government should first concentrate on passage of the Vote on Account as there were apprehensions that the Telangana issue could paralyse the House proceedings.

While Yechury accused the government of creating disorder in Parliament on the Telangana issue, Bandhopadhyay made a strong plea to make the session a short affair in which passage of Vote on Account (General) and Vote on Account (Railways) should take precedence over other issues. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister hit back at BJP, saying it wants to create hindrances in the passage of Telangana Bill. "All political parties must make their stand clear (on Telangana) and should not qualify their statements with ifs and buts," Nath said, taking a dig at the main opposition.