The T-Bill has finally been passed in the Lok Sabha by voice vote. As many as 40 MPs were in the well of the house protesting the decision when the Bill was tabled half an hour ago in the house. The opposition had conveyed its support to the Bill before it was tabled.
The T-Bill has finally been passed in the Lok Sabha by voice vote. As many as 40 MPs were in the well of the house protesting the decision when the Bill was tabled half an hour ago in the house. The opposition had conveyed its support to the Bill before it was tabled.
In what seems to be a first, the live telecast of lok sabha proceedings was stopped as Telangana Bill was taken up for discussion. The decision to stop the telecast was reportedly taken by the speaker of the house, Meira Kumar.
It should be noted that the bill has been passed after a week of failed proceedings and series of adjournments due to chaos over the Bill. On Feburuary 14, the ghastly act of pepper spaying was also witnessed in connection with the T-Bill.
The attack, which was carried out by Congress MP L Rajagopal, saw suspension of 17 Seemandhra MPs from the lower house. Despite the suspension, however, the protests continued by other anti-Telnagana factions.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was reportedly contemplating resigning from his post against the state’s division and launching a new political party.
“The whole country says the (Telangana) bill for division is undemocratic. Still, they say that we will go ahead and make the bill win by hook or crook, pass even by voice vote. In this situation, there is a need for a new party. Kiran Kumar Reddy would definitely form a new party and try to keep the state united,” state Law Minister Erasu Pratap Reddy had reportedly said.
“We actually decided that we should quit on (February) 16th. But, main opposition BJP says that the bill has not been tabled. Chief Minister is not quitting today to strengthen that. When it is officially announced that the bill has been tabled in parliament, then he will quit and all of us would quit,” he said.
Union Minister of State for Finance JD Seelam had met Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday and had submitted demands of the interest groups which included making Hyderabad a union territory for a specific period, sharing of revenue of Hyderabad between Telangana and Seemandhra and special packages for north coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.
The details of the proccedings and the amendments to the bill will be out once the detailed statement on the bill is issued by the government. Congress president Sonia Gandhi is likely to speak on the issue as well. She had issued a three-line whip to its members to be present in the house on all days of the week to ensure the passage of the Telangana bill.
The bifurcation will help BJP and YSR Congress mostly in the Seemandhra and Rayalseema region where they have managed to get a hold. But there is also no denying the fact that Congress got the bill passed and is surely to gain from it.
Whether Kiran Reddy resigns from his post or Congress manages to keep him under control will be a matter to see now.
