Ready for debate on T-Bill: Kiran

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has asserted that his Government was all for the debate on the A.P. Reorganisation Bill 2013 in the Legislature.

He exhorted the members to utilise every minute of the session’s time to air their views and concerns of their respective regions. “We are hundred per cent for the debate. The members should utilise the opportunity,” he said in a brief chat with reporters in the Assembly on Tuesday.

The Chief Minister wanted political parties to cooperate with Speaker Nadendla Manohar in the smooth conduct of the proceedings. He made the observations after the House was adjourned for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday without transacting any business.

Pandemonium continued in the House as Seemandhra MLAs of the Telugu Desam and the YSR Congress raised slogans in support of the united AP. Displaying placards, they thronged the well of the House even as the Telangana MLAs too shouted slogans. “Members should have a responsibility to the House. They should utilise the opportunity to air their concerns during the debate,” Mr. Manohar said.

Deputy Speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka who chaired the proceedings after the first adjournment wanted the floor leaders of all parties to restrain their members from thronging the well, but in vain. As the members remained unrelenting, he adjourned the House for the day.

Later, Ministers N. Raghuveera Reddy, A. Ramanarayan Reddy and Ganta Srinivasa Rao asked the YSR Congress and Seemandhra TDP legislators not to block the debate on the AP Reorganisation Bill as it would deny the people the opportunity to express their viewpoint to the Centre.

They said the two parties’ argument that allowing the debate would amount to accepting division was not correct. The YSRC had no stake left in Telangana while the TDP had other reasons to stall the debate. The Congress’ Seemandhra leaders were united in their stand for united AP and they would make this clear during the debate. “There is no confusion in the Congress. The TDP is adopting double standards,” Mr. Ramanarayan Reddy said.

In the Legislative Council too the situation was no different and the House was adjourned twice before it was adjourned for the day without transacting any business as Seemandhra TDP, YSR Congress, PRTU members raised slogans for tabling a resolution for united State while Telangana legislators demanded a discussion on the bifurcation Bill. When the House met briefly in between, Deputy Chairman N.Vidyasagar asked the members to give their amendments to the draft Bill in the prescribed format by 3 p.m. on January 10.