BJP ready to support T Bill but not without discussion

Offering "constructive" cooperation to the government on creation of a separate Telangana, BJP today conveyed its readiness to support the bill even in the din but not without a discussion.

Sources said BJP conveyed its stand during a meeting with Speaker Meira Kumar and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on passage of the bill.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj told the Speaker that BJP was in favour of the Telangana bill and is ready for its passage but not without a debate on the issue to put forth the party's viewpoint.

"BJP believes both Telangana and Seemandhra can co-exist peacefully and to that end BJP has offered constructive cooperation to the government," BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said outside Parliament.

"While creating Telangana as a separate state, government should ensure justice for Seemandhra. Because we believe that there is a need for compensation for Andhra Pradesh particularly in the first year from the consolidated fund as there will be a huge revenue loss."

Emphasising on a special package, he said "Financial package should be offered to north coastal and Rayalseema region and backward region of Andhra. There should also be a package for creation of a separate capital."

On the meeting Shinde and Union minister Jairam Ramesh had with BJP leaders including LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu yesterday, Javadekar said, "We told them that about creation of separate Telangana and justice for Seemandhra."

However, he criticised the Congress for not handling the issue in a proper way.

"Congress handled the Telangana issue in a very wrong way that is why all these problems cropping up now. Seemandhra should also be given some package."

Earlier, BJP had insisted that there should be order in the House first and Congress should control its MPs from Andhra Pradesh protesting in the Well over the bill.

Sources said concerned over the developments on Andhra Pradesh's bifurcation, Union Minister M M Pallam Raju also met senior BJP leader L K Advani, besides also some TDP members and Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in his office at Parliament House.

Naidu has said that his party is ready to support the bill but is demanding a proper discussion on the contentious issue of creating the separate state.