New Delhi: The UPA government’s efforts to satisfy Seemandhra people are coming out by way of leaks, it seems.
A Background note circulated today by the Union Home ministry to the Group of Ministers (GoM) on bifurcation, has said that the “Telangana of ten districts with Hyderabad” is not yet possible.
Secondly, the note has asked the GoM to also look into the possibility of two separate capitals for Telangana and residual Andhra Pradesh.
Also, the 85-page note has identified five issues as crucial if the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh has to be made possible. The five key issues as identified by the Union Home ministry are: Status of Hyderabad, Article 371 (D), sharing of water rights, sharing of gas resources and location of Public Sector Enterprises.
Apart from these, the note has also put 11 problematic issues related to legislative, administrative and geographical aspects before the GoM for its suggestions. Some of them are- the composition of legislative assemblies, legislative councils, speakers and deputy speakers, duration (lifetime) of these legislative bodies, Polavaram and Pranahitha-Chevella projects, Jalayagnam, education and medical education, among other issues.
The GoM is expected to look into these issues during its next meeting slated for November 7.
More crucial is the Home ministry’s view that Article 371(D) might have to be amended. It is well known, how this article has been a bone of contention between the separationists and integrationists. Those against the division of state have been arguing that Article 371 (D) has to be amended before going for bifurcation and it needs two-thirds majority in the Parliament. Those in favour of Telangana formation argue that Article 371 (D) can be easily amended by following the provisions as laid down in Article 4 of the Constitution and amending Article 371 (D) falls under the “incidental and consequential measures” mentioned in Artciel 4.
The Home Ministry’s note also mentioned the desirability of setting up a tribunal to look into the disputes of water-sharing between the three regions – Telangana, Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra.
The note mentions that Hyderabad happens to be the location of 40 Public sector units under the central government's purview and 26 defence-related institutions and nine national level centres of higher learning and this aspect has to be looked into by the GoM.
Though the note is classified as ‘secret’ as it is mentioned in the Background note, the note is now with almost all news channels and newspapers. Political observers have remarked that making the note public at this stage, might be an effort by the UPA government to give the impression that it is in fact working on the concerns raised by Seemandhra people. But it may be too late if not too little.
It has to be seen whether the contents of the note satisfy the disgruntled Seemandhra Congress leaders, seething at their high-command for bypassing them while taking such a crucial decision and banking on 'outside' forces for winning Lok Sabha seats.
source: Andhra Headlines
A Background note circulated today by the Union Home ministry to the Group of Ministers (GoM) on bifurcation, has said that the “Telangana of ten districts with Hyderabad” is not yet possible.
Secondly, the note has asked the GoM to also look into the possibility of two separate capitals for Telangana and residual Andhra Pradesh.
Also, the 85-page note has identified five issues as crucial if the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh has to be made possible. The five key issues as identified by the Union Home ministry are: Status of Hyderabad, Article 371 (D), sharing of water rights, sharing of gas resources and location of Public Sector Enterprises.
Apart from these, the note has also put 11 problematic issues related to legislative, administrative and geographical aspects before the GoM for its suggestions. Some of them are- the composition of legislative assemblies, legislative councils, speakers and deputy speakers, duration (lifetime) of these legislative bodies, Polavaram and Pranahitha-Chevella projects, Jalayagnam, education and medical education, among other issues.
The GoM is expected to look into these issues during its next meeting slated for November 7.
More crucial is the Home ministry’s view that Article 371(D) might have to be amended. It is well known, how this article has been a bone of contention between the separationists and integrationists. Those against the division of state have been arguing that Article 371 (D) has to be amended before going for bifurcation and it needs two-thirds majority in the Parliament. Those in favour of Telangana formation argue that Article 371 (D) can be easily amended by following the provisions as laid down in Article 4 of the Constitution and amending Article 371 (D) falls under the “incidental and consequential measures” mentioned in Artciel 4.
The Home Ministry’s note also mentioned the desirability of setting up a tribunal to look into the disputes of water-sharing between the three regions – Telangana, Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra.
The note mentions that Hyderabad happens to be the location of 40 Public sector units under the central government's purview and 26 defence-related institutions and nine national level centres of higher learning and this aspect has to be looked into by the GoM.
Though the note is classified as ‘secret’ as it is mentioned in the Background note, the note is now with almost all news channels and newspapers. Political observers have remarked that making the note public at this stage, might be an effort by the UPA government to give the impression that it is in fact working on the concerns raised by Seemandhra people. But it may be too late if not too little.
It has to be seen whether the contents of the note satisfy the disgruntled Seemandhra Congress leaders, seething at their high-command for bypassing them while taking such a crucial decision and banking on 'outside' forces for winning Lok Sabha seats.
source: Andhra Headlines
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