: The private member Bill introduced by Congress MP K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao in support of Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh did not come up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha on Friday even as the issue provided an opportunity to major political parties to indulge in blame game.
While the Congress members insisted that the Bill be taken up for discussion, the BJP members thronged the podium demanding action against Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann for posting the security arrangements in Parliament in the social media. Amid the continuing furore, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurian adjourned the proceedings for Monday.
The Congress criticised the Narendra Modi government for not implementing the assurances given to Andhra Pradesh on the floor of Parliament. Senior member Digvijaya Singh alleged that the government was deliberately ignoring the interests of the State and the BJP lacked commitment on granting SCS as promised by the previous government.
TDP rebuts charge
He said all the regional parties had extended their support to SCS to Andhra Pradesh and grant of the coveted status would ensure accelerated development of the State. The TDP members, however, rebutted the charge, claiming that it was the Congress that lacked commitment on the issue.
Former MP V. Aruna Kumar alleged that the BJP members deliberately stalled the Bill from coming up for discussion as was evident from the demand for action against the AAP member. “The BJP is in power and what prevented it from initiating action against the erring member?” he asked.
He lamented that the Centre had put the issues pertaining to A.P. on the backburner and said it was high time members cutting across party lines joined hands in mounting pressure on the Centre to grant SCS and other benefits promised to A.P. when the A.P. Reorganisation Bill was passed behind closed doors. “The members should display the same spirit of unity they had shown in opposing the bifurcation of the State,” he said.
Sujana slams Congress
Union Minister Y. Satyanarayana (Sujana) Chowdary faulted the Congress for not insisting on the debate on the issue during the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee held earlier in the day. “Why did they (the Congress members) not insist on taking up the issue as top priority when they knew that the Bill was placed at number 14 in the list of items to be taken up by the House today?”
Mr. Chowdary said the TDP had decided to extend its support to the Bill in spite of the fact that it would not serve any tangible purpose.
“The Bill has no sanctity and its passage or otherwise would not have any impact. But, we decided to support the Bill as a matter of record,” Mr. Chowdary said. He said he planned to take oath of office on Monday initially, but came prepared to the House to take oath today to participate in the voting on the Bill.
