The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has expressed doubts over the commitment of the Congress-led UPA government on ensuring the passage of the A.P. Reorganisation Bill, 2013.
Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is camping in New Delhi, cautioned the party leaders against the Congress’ motives after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamalnath told the opposition parties that the government sought legal views yet again on the bifurcation Bill.
Mr. Kamalnath reportedly told the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee on Tuesday that the government was awaiting legal advice for introducing the Bill in the Parliament.
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“When the Bill has been cleared by the Law Ministry and reached the government after President Pranab Mukherjee’s consent, where is the need for obtaining legal opinion again?” a senior leader asked. Mr. Naidu is understood to have told the party leaders that the government’s attempt to rush through the Bill without giving scope for a debate reflected its non-serious approach.
Mr. Naidu, according to sources, wanted the party leaders to take serious note of the developments and be cautious in their approach as and when the Bill was introduced in the Parliament.
He was reported to have told the party leaders that he was firm on his demand for equal justice to the two regions and would continue his efforts to convince the other parties to mount pressure on the ruling Congress in this direction.
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The Telangana TDP leaders called on senior BJP leader L.K. Advani on Tuesday and sought his support for ensuring smooth passage of the Bill. Mr. Advani, they said, asserted that the BJP was firm on its stand in favour of smaller States, but the Bill that was brought out by the Congress had several “deficiencies” that had legal implications.