Politics over the demand of special status and further grants to the bifurcated State of Andhra Pradesh gained momentum on Friday with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking the Centre to fulfil the commitments made by him as PM two years ago. While the demand intensified in the Rajya Sabha where Singh spoke on the issue, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise the issue of special status for his State.
Singh appealed to the Upper House to honour commitments made by him on February 20, 2014 on the floor of the Rajya Sabha to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh. It was for the first time that Singh had himself spoken on the issue over which NDA ally TDP and its Government in Andhra Pradesh has locked horns with the BJP-led Government at the Centre.
Singh argued that his Cabinet had also approved an Ordinance for the same but it got delayed because the Model Code of Conduct for 2014 lok Sabha polls came into force. He said after his assurances, Arun Jaitley, the then leader of Opposition, had withdrawn his amendments expressing satisfaction.
However, Jaitley said, “I am a member of this House and I am disappointing myself and my colleagues but we must accept the reality that framers of the Constitution gave certain jurisdiction to lok Sabha only”.
Amidst an uproar by the Congress members in Rajya Sabha, The ‘Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill’, moved by Congress member KVP Ramachandra Rao, was referred to lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for a decision on its fate. TDP and YSR MPs too have been agitating for the demand for a number of days, both inside and outside the Parliament.
“The Constitution does not give any power to the Chair (of Rajya Sabha) to decide if it is Money Bill or not....The point is if the Chair has any doubt he cannot decide...In a way Chairman of Rajya Sabha is vested with zero power whether it is Money Bill or not...I am giving ruling...Since the matter is under doubt, I refer the matter to the Speaker,” Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said. If it is declared as Money Bill, there cannot be any discussion on it in the Rajya Sabha, which was prematurely adjourned.
Finance Minister and leader of the House Arun Jaitley raised objections to the Bill, saying Money Bill cannot be introduced in the Rajya Sabha. Kurien said he was in no position to decide whether the Bill seeking special category status for Andhra Pradesh is a Money Bill or not.
Sources said Naidu told the Prime Minister that a special status was assured to Andhra Pradesh after its bifurcation by his predecessor Manmohan Singh and also by the TDP and the BJP during the polls and the promise must be delivered. Naidu also met senior Union Ministers including Jaitley in this regard.
The Chief Minister is also believed to have said that since several political parties supported the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, the chances of their resistance to special status to the state are likely to be little.
Meanwhile, a group of TDP leaders in Vijayawada took the path of “Gandhigiri” to urge the BJP for a favourable decision on the issue. TDP leaders and workers led by Vijayawada Central MlA Bonda Umamaheshwara Rao took up brooms to clean the surroundings of the AP State BJP office in the city.