NEW DELHI: Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has refused to give a deadline for introduction of a bill for formation of Telangana state but made it clear that the government will not go back on its decision to create the new state. "I do not think there is any possibility of going back to the decision to create Telangana," Shinde said.
He added that time-limit of six weeks prescribed in an earlier notification was not there for the Group of Ministers to give a report on the division of the state. "The reason is that the GoM should give a report as early as possible," Shinde said. Explaining the process he said the Cabinet will take a decision once the GoM recommendations were given; the matter will then go to the President, who will subsequently send it to the Andhra Pradesh assembly.
"It will then come back and go to Parliament," Shinde said, adding that a favourableresolution by the assembly was not mandatory. When specifically asked if the Telangana Bill would be tabled in the upcoming winter session of Parliament, he said, "that we will see."
To another question, Shinde said Telangana cannot be within a day of the announcement. "It takes time." Shinde was also non-committal on clamping President's Rule in Andhra Pradesh following the agitation in Seemandhara region. "That I cannot say now" he said.
Shinde also did not make it clear whether stake-holders like political parties would be consulted before formulating recommendations. "The Srikrishna Commission has already done extensive consultations with all political parties. It is not right to say right now if the GoM will also do it," Shinde said.
He denied assertions that the Telangana decision was taken in a hurry, pointing out that the first announcement was made in 2009. The Home Minister also made light of the apprehension that there was no representative from Andhra Pradesh in the 7-member GoM.
"This is not an issue... Justice will be given to Andhra Pradesh," he said, adding that some have suggested Kurnool should be the capital of Seemandhara after bifurcation and the seat of the High Court could be Guntur.
source: The Economic times
He added that time-limit of six weeks prescribed in an earlier notification was not there for the Group of Ministers to give a report on the division of the state. "The reason is that the GoM should give a report as early as possible," Shinde said. Explaining the process he said the Cabinet will take a decision once the GoM recommendations were given; the matter will then go to the President, who will subsequently send it to the Andhra Pradesh assembly.
"It will then come back and go to Parliament," Shinde said, adding that a favourableresolution by the assembly was not mandatory. When specifically asked if the Telangana Bill would be tabled in the upcoming winter session of Parliament, he said, "that we will see."
To another question, Shinde said Telangana cannot be within a day of the announcement. "It takes time." Shinde was also non-committal on clamping President's Rule in Andhra Pradesh following the agitation in Seemandhara region. "That I cannot say now" he said.
Shinde also did not make it clear whether stake-holders like political parties would be consulted before formulating recommendations. "The Srikrishna Commission has already done extensive consultations with all political parties. It is not right to say right now if the GoM will also do it," Shinde said.
He denied assertions that the Telangana decision was taken in a hurry, pointing out that the first announcement was made in 2009. The Home Minister also made light of the apprehension that there was no representative from Andhra Pradesh in the 7-member GoM.
"This is not an issue... Justice will be given to Andhra Pradesh," he said, adding that some have suggested Kurnool should be the capital of Seemandhara after bifurcation and the seat of the High Court could be Guntur.
source: The Economic times
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