Furore over Telangana bill continues in AP Houses

The first round of debate on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 ended here on Friday amid high drama, with lawmakers from the Seemandhra region pushing for a vote on the Bill and the MLAs from the Telangana region collectively obstructing the move.

Before both Houses of legislature concluded, to convene again on January 17, hundreds of suggestions and corrections flooded the Speaker’s office, it being the last day to register apprehensions. In all, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) legislators from Seemandhra submitted 4,928 suggestions — approximately 108 per MLA.

While Congress MLAs from Seemandhra submitted blank papers to Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and asked him to submit a single proforma opposing bifurcation, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), welcoming the Bill, suggested several amendments.

They are: The Centre should reduce the time for keeping Hyderabad as common capital to three years instead of 10. The powers on Hyderabad should be vested with the Telangana Chief Minister. A new building for High Court should be constructed for the Telangana state within three months of its creation. The Centre should identify employees on the basis of their local area certificates because Telangana would not bear the burden of Seemandhra employees.