Pranab Mukherjee sends Telangana Bill to Andhra Pradesh Assembly

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday sent a bill for the creation of Telangana to the Union Home Ministry. Sources say the Home Ministry will today forward the bill to the Andhra Pradesh assembly for consideration. 

 

The President had earlier sought legal opinions as he wanted the bill, which provides for creation of Telangana by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, to be legally sound before sending it to the state assembly for approval.

The Bill has already seen a virtual revolt from the state Congress' own Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy who had said recently during a public rally that he would not allow Andhra Pradesh to be divided. "We will see how the Bill is passed in Parliament. United Andhra Pradesh is not just a slogan, it's our policy," Mr Reddy had said.

Experts said that whatever the assembly does, Parliament can go ahead with its legislative process for creation of the new state.

The Union Cabinet had on December 5 given the go-ahead for the creation of a 10-district Telangana and outlined the blueprint for carving out the country's 29th state.

Telangana will comprise 10 districts and the rest of Andhra Pradesh consists of 13 districts and Hyderabad will remain the common capital for both the states for a period not exceeding 10 years.

The Governor of Telangana will have a special responsibility for security of life, liberty and property of all those who reside in the common capital area. The Governor may be assisted by two advisors to be appointed by the Centre.