Telangana is just a step away from becoming a reality. Amid TV blackout of lok Sabha proceedings, continuous sloganeering and strong protests by members from Seemandhra region, including Central Ministers, the lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2014.
The “reworked” Bill was passed after a short “discussion”. Only leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj and Union Minister Jaipal Reddy, a pro-Telangana leader from Andhra Pradesh took part in the debate initiated by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. The live telecast of lok Sabha proceedings was blacked out when the Telangana Bill was discussed. Although lok Sabha officials claimed that disruption occurred due to a technical failure, there were few takers for the excuse.
leader of Opposition in the lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said the coverage might have been deliberately stopped. “They say that the blackout of lok Sabha was due to a ‘technical glitch’. No. It was a tactical glitch,” she tweeted. “We strongly condemn the blackout of the proceedings of lok Sabha. It was done without our knowledge… I am sorry to inform that lok Sabha Secretariat is not providing us the audio or video recording of my today’s speech on Telangana Bill (sic),” Swaraj posted on the microblogging website.
BJP stalwart lK Advani felt ‘sad’. “This is perversion of Parliament democracy, the way the Telangana Bill has been passed. I am disappointed that such a crucial Bill was passed with just a voice vote,” he said. YSR Congress leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy to alleged that the live telecast “was cut-off”. Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen MP Asaduddin Owaisi too slammed the blackout. “Why is the Government embarrassedIJ People have a right to see. They have a right to know,” he said. The live telecast on lok Sabha TV channel abruptly went off the screen minutes after the House met at 3 pm to discuss the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2014.
The Bill was passed after 90 minutes of vociferous slogan-shouting in the Well of the House, through which the clause-by-clause amendments were piloted by the Home Minister. Congress president Sonia Gandhi was present during the initial phase of presentation of the Bill. The Well of the House was packed by protesters of all political hues and colours. This time, the protests, however, did not spin out of control like on February 13. The main Opposition BJP supported the Bill with around 30 amendments carried out by the Government “accommodating” party’s suggestions.
The Government, however, did not go for the Constitutional amendment to validate the new State Governor having “special powers” on the law and order in Hyderabad which is to be the Capital of Telangana and Seemandhra — the rest of Andhra Pradesh.
Swaraj said her party would move amendments in the Rajya Sabha to ensure justice for Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh. Though the bill was not passed with “proper discussion”, the BJP backed the Government as otherwise, she said the latter would have “blamed us” for blocking Telangana State. She said the BJP would have supported Constitutional amendment if government would have brought it. “It is a faulty legislation”, she hasten to add.
The Bill was adopted by voice vote along with several official amendments. Moving the Telangana Bill for consideration and passage, Shinde said the Centre will give special financial package to Seemandhra, residual part of Andhra Pradesh, to address the grievances of the people of that region. A number of amendments to the Telangana Bill moved by AIMIM member Asaduddin Owaisi and Trinamool Congress member Sougata Roy were negated. Both the members were repeatedly seen insisting on division on their amendments. Owaisi demanded a separate Public Service Commission and Separate High Court for Telangana and declaring Polavaram Irrigation project and the Pranahita Chevella irrigation project as “National Projects”.
Swaraj, who spoke as per an understanding with the government, said her party supports the creation of Telangana but attacked the way it was being done. She later at a press conference denied that the BJP veteran lK Advani was not pleased with the passing of the bill and clarified that the party patriarch was unhappy on account of the manner it got its passage in the house without a proper discussion.
“I and my party support the Telangana Bill.... Telangana should be formed.... We rise to prove our credibility and to see wishes of youth of Telangana are fulfilled,” Swaraj said amid loud protests by members from CPI(M), Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress in the Well. Accusing the Congress of delaying the process of Telangana formation, the leader of the Opposition said though the ruling party had promised Telangana way back in May 2004, it brought it at the fag end of the 15th lok Sabha. “You have been in power in the last ten years, but you did nothing. You just sat over it”, she told Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
Reddy, who was allowed to speak by the Speaker prefaced his address by referring to BJP’s support to Telangana “for last 44 years” saying even it supported the demand even in its earlier avatar as ‘Bharatiya Jana Sangh’ . He pointed to what he called “dissenting voice” of Advani, thanked Swaraj for her support for the creation of Telangana State and concluded by giving all credit to Congress President Sonia Gandhi. “All this is possible because of Sonia Gandhi”. “She is very open in her outlook,” he was quick to add.