Rajya Sabha passed the Telangana Bill

Amid unprecedented bedlam and intense debating, the Rajya Sabha passed the contentious Telangana Bill

Earlier Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday announced a six-point development package for successor states of Andhra Pradesh including grant of special category status including tax incentives to Seemandhra.

Announcing a host of measures for the two states, the Prime Minister said amid unprecedented din in Rajya Sabha that tax incentives will be offered to promote industrialisation and economic growth in both the states, on the lines of those extended to some other states.

A protective cordon was thrown around Singh by Congress members as members from Seemandhra region as also those from TMC and Shiv Sena stormed the Well with TMC members even tearing papers and throwing them on the floor.

Intervening in the debate on the crucial Telangana Bill, Singh assured the members that the Centre will execute the Polavaram irrigation project at the earliest.

“Our government will execute the Polavaram project...let there be no doubt about it,” Dr. Singh said.

He said for purposes of Central assistance, Special Category Status will be extended for a period of five years to the successor state of Andhra Pradesh comprising 13 districts.

These will include the four districts of Rayalaseema and three districts of north coastal Andhra to put the state’s finances on a firmer footing, he said.

Dr. Singh noted that the Bill already provided for a special development package for backward regions of successor state of Andhra Pradesh, in particular for the districts of Rayalaseema and North Coastal Andhra Pradesh.

He said this development package will be on the lines of the KBK (Koraput—Bolangir—Kalahandi) Special Plan in Odisha and the Bundelkhand special package in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

The Prime Minister assured that the appointed day for formation of the new state will be so fixed in relation to the notified date so as to enable preparatory work relating to personnel, finance and distribution of assets and liabilities to be completed satisfactorily.

“I hope these additional announcements will demonstrate our steadfast commitment to not just the creation of Telangana but also to the continued prosperity and welfare of Seemandhra,” Dr. Singh noted.

Earlier amid unprecedented bedlam, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde moved the Telangana bill in Rajya Sabha for consideration leading to three adjournments within 30 minutes.

The Well of the Upper House virtually turned into a battle field as MrShinde moved the bill with anti-Telangana protestors displaying huge placards opposing the bill and creating uproar.

Even though Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley, who had raised the issue of constitutional invalidity of the bill was asked by Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to put forth his point of view, the surcharged atmosphere forced the Chair to go for a short break.

Mr Jaitley was not allowed to have his say despite being called by the Chair whose repeated pleas to maintain order in the House went unheeded.

The House had witnessed high drama yesterday with Secretary General Shumsher K Sheriff being heckled by a TDP member who tried to snatch from him papers related to Telangana bill.

When the Chair took up the Whistleblowers Bill for consideration, Prakash Javadekar (BJP) went near the podium to demand that the Telengana Bill be brought first, even as V Maitrayan (AIADMK) got into a scuffle with the marshalls demanding a discussion on the Tamil fishermen issue.

The Telangana bill was moved for consideration even as a deadlock persisted over it with the government accusing BJP of bringing amendments at the eleventh hour.

“We have listed the Telangana bill in Rajya Sabha and we would be attempting to get it passed. The question of amendments at this stage does not arise,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath had told reporters earlier. 

Source : The Hindu