T Bill to be tabled as a money Bill in lS
Amid continuing suspense over when the Telangana Bill will be introduced in Parliament, the Congress on Wednesday declared war on the opponents of the Bill by expelling six lok Sabha members from Seemandhara region. The party announced that it was expelling the members for giving a notice of No-Confidence Motion against the Government.
The six MPs expelled by Congress president Sonia Gandhi are Sabbam Hari, GV Harsha Kumar, V Arun Kumar, l Rajagopal, R Sambasiva Rao and Sai Pratap.
The Congress apparently wants to send a strong message to party members, including Andhra Pradesh (AP) Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, who are fiercely opposing creation of Telangana.
“Congress president Sonia Gandhi has approved the decision of the AICC disciplinary committee to expel the six MPs from AP with immediate effect,” said AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi in a Press release.
The move comes days after the Union Cabinet cleared the proposal for bifurcation of AP and creation of Telangana. The Government has indicated that the Bill will be brought before Parliament in a couple of days.
Contrary to earlier expectations, the Telangana Bill will now be introduced in lok Sabha first instead of Rajya Sabha. The Government has sought fresh recommendations from the President after the Upper House secretariat held it is a Money Bill and can be introduced only in lok Sabha.
The Rajya Sabha secretariat was of the view that since the proposed Act would involve appropriation of money out of the consolidated fund, it is a Money Bill as defined in the Constitution and hence it has to be first introduced in lok Sabha. Under Article 117(1) of the Constitution, a Money Bill cannot be introduced in Rajya Sabha.
Home Ministry officials said the plan to table the AP Reorganisation Bill in Rajya Sabha has been reviewed and a fresh recommendation from President Pranab Mukherjee has been sought for the legislation’s introduction in lok Sabha. The President gave his nod for bifurcation of AP by approving the legislation late evening on Monday.
The Bill was approved by the Union Cabinet on Friday, notwithstanding rejection by the State Assembly.
Under this, Telangana will comprise ten districts and the rest of AP 13 districts. Hyderabad will remain the common Capital for both the States for a period not exceeding ten years.
Turmoil in Parliament over Telangana and other issues took a toll on the proceedings for the fifth consecutive day on Tuesday, resulting in transaction of no substantial business in both Houses. While the lok Sabha was adjourned for the day at noon after one adjournment soon after it met for the day, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day a little after 2 pm when it met after three adjournments in the pre-lunch sitting.
Amid the din the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014 and the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2014, and the Street Vendors (Protection of livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Bill, 2013 was introduced.
Congress MP Ananta Venkatrami Reddy, who is among the 12 party MPs from Seemandhara not to sign on the notice for no-confidence, said they were totally against the Bill for bifurcation of the State and will vote against it. There are 25 MPs from the Seemandhara region including 18 from the Congress, three from YSR Congress and four from the TDP.
Over the logjam in Parliament and PM’s scheduled lunch diplomacy on Thursday, AICC General Secretary Ajay Maken said the immediate goal is to get the clearance from Parliament for the Bill. “What the Prime Minister is doing is in that direction. That is why the Government is extending its hand to the Opposition so that the six anti-corruption Bills are passed,” Maken said.