Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday opposed the bifurcation of his state, challenging the Centre to place in Parliament the Telangana bill in the same form as it was referred to the state legislature.
“I challenge them to put the same bill, which they referred to us, in Parliament. If it is accepted, I will get away from politics,” Reddy said.
The CM alleged that the central government had “deceived” the President by sending an incomprehensive Telangana bill to him. “The President doesn't scrutinise the bill. The ministry of home affairs and the law ministry scrutinise the bill, not the President,” he said.
Reddy also justified his request to the President to give three more weeks for the Andhra Pradesh legislature to discuss the bill and express its views. “Is it justified to return the bill when only 86 out of 280 MLAs expressed their views,” he asked.
The President had last month referred the bill to the state legislature seeking its opinion under Article 3 of the Constitution. It was asked to give its opinion by January 23. The state government sought another four weeks to debate the bill but the President has given time till January 30.
Both Houses of the Andhra Pradesh legislature were earlier adjourned for an hour immediately after they met for the day on Wednesday. Legislators from Telangana continued their protest, demanding the presiding officers to reject the notices given by the chief minister and endowments minister for a resolution to reject the bill.
With the extended deadline for the legislature to send its opinion on the bill to the President of India is ending Thursday, no debate could be taken up for the third day due to pandemonium.
Legislators from Telangana surrounded the speaker's podium, urging him to reject the notice given by the CM to move a resolution to reject the bill. They raised slogans in favour of support of Telangana state while the lawmakers from Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra) countered them with slogans for united Andhra Pradesh.
The speaker asked the members to give their written speeches on the bill as his repeated appeals to the members to express their views by participating in the debate failed to restore the order. Amid the ruckus, he adjourned the House for an hour.
When the House re-assembled, there was no let-up in the protests, forcing deputy speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka to adjourn the proceedings for another hour.
Courtesy:Agencies
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