Seema leaders urge President to refer Telangana Bill to SC

Rajahmundry: The Seemandhra Lawyers' Joint Action Committee (JAC) sent a fax message to President Pranab Mukherjee today, urging him to refer the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Bill 2013 to the Supreme Court.

 "Since the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council of the state of Andhra Pradesh adopted resolutions rejecting the AP Re-organisation Bill 2013 by voice vote, we request your excellency to kindly consider invoking Article 143 of the Constitution of India and refer the matter to the Supreme Court of India for its opinion, as to whether the bill can be introduced in Parliament or not," the faxed letter released to reporters here today by the Seemandhra Lawyers' JAC co-convener Muppalla Subba Rao said.

 He also said in the letter that the bill was prepared on the basis of opinions expressed by people from Telangana region to gain political mileage. The letter said that it is also against the spirit of the federal system and the Constitution of India to send a bill which was defeated in the assembly and council, to the President of India.

Regional parties meet

Regional parties from Andhra Pradesh today held a series of meetings with various political parties over the Telangana statehood Bill.

Even as TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu met leaders of BJP and JD(U) here, his counterpart and TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao led a delegation to CPI. Both the parties held separate discussions with RLD chief Ajit Singh within a gap of three hours on the Telangana bill which has been listed for introduction, consideration and passage in the coming session of Parliament. While, CPI and RLD assured support for the passage of the bill, JD(U) said the issue would discussed in the party meeting before arriving at a decision.

"Yesterday, we decided to call our party meeting and decide the future course. The situation is so peculiar, we will sit together and decide," JD(U) President Sharad Yadav told reporters after meeting Naidu.

Naidu said he emphasised on justice for both the regions--Seemandhra and Telangana--and an amicable solution for the issue. Accusing Congress of playing double game over bifurcation, he alleged it has cheated the people of Andhra Pradesh. Earlier, Naidu met BJP chief Rajnath Singh.

According to BJP sources, the meeting between BJP and TDP leaders was unscheduled and the two were understood to have discussed the issue of Telangana and a possible alliance between the two parties. TDP has been giving signals of seeking to forge an alliance with BJP ahead of Lok Sabha polls. Naidu has had a number meetings with the BJP chief and other senior leaders.