Hyderabad: Seemandhra Union ministers Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, D. Purandeswari and K. Kriparani on Saturday rued that they had failed prevent the bifurcation of the state, as also securing a package for the region.
Purandeswari wrote to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, stating that if the Seemandhra did not get a special package, she may be forced to vote against the T-Bill in Parliament.
Purandeswari pointed out that the Cabinet had not conceded their demand for including Bhadrachalam — a part of the erstwhile Andhra state — in Seemandhra, as also making Hyderabad a Union Territory.
Sambasiva Rao?who was in the Cabinet meeting that approved the draft T-Bill, briefed the media extensively. “No minister was allowed to look at the details of the over 120-page Telangana Bill. I can say that without reading anything the Cabinet approved the Bill,” he said.
“It was brought to the Cabinet as a table item. A Bill on bifurcation needs to be perused by all the ministers, well in advance. That requires the Bill to be circulated at least a day in advance,” he said.
“When home minister Sushilkumar Shinde brought up the issue, I asked for two days to study it,” he said.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh responded favourably to his suggestion. But, some “senior ministers” differed, and told Dr Singh that discussions had gone on for a long time and there was no need to discuss it any further.
Following this “push from the seniors,” Dr Singh gave the go-ahead to table the GoM report and the Bill. After this, only the Cabinet ministers from AP — including Jaipal Reddy, M.M. Pallam Raju, Kishore Chandra Deo and Sambasiva Rao himself — expressed their opinions. The three Seemandhra ministers wanted careful consideration of several problems involved in bifurcating the state.
At this point, Dr Singh said, “it is getting late.” This was because the Cabinet had discussed other issues for one hour and then took up the Telangana issue at 6 pm. The discussions went on until after 8 pm.
Rao said that normally the GoM report is vetted by the Cabinet and then sent to the law ministry, which drafts the Bill. The draft goes to at least 10 Union ministries for verification. Only then does the Cabinet give its approval.
Rao said bifurcation should be done in such a manner that it does not cause differences among people of the two regions. In Srikakulam, Kriparani said:?“We have failed in keeping the state united. We will now work to get a better package”.
Next: JC decides to leave Congress
JC decides to leave Congress
Guntur: Former minister and senior Congress MLA J.C. Diwakar Reddy, who has been very upset ever since the Congress high command’s decision to bifurcate the state, announced that he will quit the party.
Speaking to the media on Saturday Reddy said he will not contest the forthcoming general elections. Reddy also made it clear that he was not going to join the Telugu Desam or YSR Congress. He said, “I will remain silent”.
Reddy alleged that the Centre is going ahead without any rule, rhyme or rhythm. He said there is no point in Seemandhra MLAs opposing the Telangana Bill in the Assembly. He said that although the people of Seemandhra had pinned high hopes on Sonia Gandhi, she has let them down.
