Taking his fight against the Centre to the next level, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday challenged it to place in Parliament the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 in the same form as had been referred to the State legislature.
Mr. Reddy took potshots at the Centre on the penultimate day of the seven-day extension given by the President for the A.P. legislature to complete the debate on the Bill.
Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister blamed the Centre for sending a flawed Bill that was bereft of crucial information expected to be incorporated in any draft law.
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Mr. Reddy reiterated his stand that the draft Bill referred to the State legislature was incomplete in several aspects as it lacked aims, objects and reasons for bifurcation. “Where is the financial memorandum and expenditure and any mention about purpose of bifurcation,” he said.
The Chief Minister wondered why the MLAs from Telangana were afraid and obstructing voting on resolution rejecting the Bill.
He said so far only 87 members out of 274 had spoken and every member had the right to express his views. “When 9,024 amendments have been given, how is it possible to express the views without voting?”
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Asked about the proposed Group of Ministers meeting on February 4, he shot back saying: “If the Centre wants to go ahead with the Bill in Parliament without views of the AP Legislature let it go ahead.”