In a historic decision, the Union Cabinet on Thursday gave its nod for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and to make Hyderabad the joint capital of both the States of Telangana and Andhra. A score of “united Andhra” supporters protested outside the PM’s residence when the Cabinet was in a huddle.
HRD Minister Pallam Raju, who hails from Andhra region, offered to resign, but the PM is reported to have advised him not to take any decision in haste. However, several MPs and MlAs are expected to resign in protest against the Government move.
In a late night development, Union Minister of State for Tourism K Chiranjeevi is reported to have resigned from the ministerial position. Sources said that Chiranjeevi has faxed his resignation letter to the Prime Minister’s Office.
After nearly a two-hour long meeting at the residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said that the Union Cabinet approved the formation of a Group of Ministers (GoM) to determine the mechanism to ensure the legal and administrative measures for the functioning of both the Governments of the successive States from the common capital of Hyderabad.
The 22-page Cabinet Note with 14 points was earlier formally okayed by Shinde and sent for the consideration of the Cabinet. Hyderabad will be joint capital of Telangana and Seemandhra for 10 years.
Shinde said people of all the three regions will be guaranteed fundamental rights and the GoM will look into special financial disbursement for the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh. After the Cabinet nod for Telangana, the Congress can hope a deluge of resignations from MPs, MlAs and Ministers in both AP and at the Centre.
The Seemandhra region, which has been shut for over two months in protest against Telangana is likely to witness a total shutdown and widespread protests following the Centre’s decision.
Since the July 30 resolution of the Congress Working Committee favoring the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, 67 years after it was formed as a Telugu speaking state by merging Telangana and Andhra regions, the consideration of the formal note by the Cabinet marks the beginning of the process of creation of a separate State.
After the approval by the Cabinet, the Note will be sent to the President Pranab Mukherji for his approval and then it will be sent for the opinion of the Andhra Pradesh legislative Assembly. According the Constitutional experts even if the State Assembly rejects the resolution by a majority vote, the Center will not be bound to abide by it. The next step in the process will be drafting of a Bill which will be tabled in Parliament’s Winter Session next month.
After UPA partners and main Opposition BJP declared that it will vote in favour of Telangana, the Bill was likely to have a smooth passage in both the Houses of Parliament. However, Telangana resolution will face a rough weather in the Assembly where in the 294-member House, only 119 come from Telangana and they are outnumbered by the member of MlAs from Seemandhra who were bent on opposing the State of Telangana, specially against sharing the Capital.
As the news about the Cabinet decision spread, the United Andhra Pradesh supporters gathered near the PM’s House and tried to held a protest demonstration but they were rounded up promptly by the alert policemen.
“Since 65 days in Seemandhra areas, a total of 10 lakh employees including teachers are on the roads. In the last 35 days our issues were brought to the Rajya Sabha and the lok Sabha. Our leader Chandra Babu Naidu met Prime Minister, president and all other leaders and demanded that they should listen to our problems before deciding on the bifurcation,” said TDP Rajya Sabha member CM Ramesh.
“If people are satisfied, go for bifurcation. Congress Government is not listening. It is for the first time in the India political history, State bifurcation is being tabled in this form. We will take this issues to the public of Andhra Pradesh,” said Ramesh.