Telangana Bill debate eludes House

Hyderabad: The Assembly was adjourned yet again on Saturday without any discussion on the Telangana Bill. Both the Assembly and Council were adjourned to Monday.

YSR Congress MLAs stalled the proceedings in the Assembly, demanding that a resolution be passed in favour of united Andhra Pradesh, and later said they would stall the Assembly till the resolution is passed.

Telangana MLAs want the government to suspend the YSRC legislators from the House so that a discussion on the draft bill can begin.

The YSRC MLAs calculate that if they are suspended from the House, they will reap the benefits in the Seemandhra region for standing up for a united Andhra Pradesh. Seemandhra TD members are also following the same strategy.

The government does not want them to have the political advantage that will accrue from suspending them. So, for the last two days, Congress MLAs and ministers have been trying to convince the YSRC and TD MLAs not to stall the functioning of the House.

Two ministers — Anam Ramnarayana Reddy and N. Raghuveera Reddy — and others have held discussions with the YSRC and TD legislators.

The YSRC MLAs have told the ministers that if the House passes a resolution in favour of a united state, they will have no objection to discussions on the Telangana Bill.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy says that members should discuss the Telangana Bill in the Assembly and freely express their opinions in the debate.

Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha pointed out that at the national level two major parties — the Congress and BJP — are in favour of a separate Telangana state, so whether members discuss the Telangana Bill in the Assembly or not, the formation of Telangana state is certain.

He also said that many Seemandhra ministers and MLAs are not happy with the Chief Minister. He said some important developments will take place after January 10.

Government chief whip Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy, speaking to the media on Saturday, said that if the same situation prevails in the Assembly on Monday, Telangana MLAs will submit their opinion to the Speaker in writing.

Meanwhile, PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana has prepared an affidavit which Seemandhra Congress MLAs will submit to the Speaker, opposing the state’s division.