Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Telangana is just one step away from being formally declared as the 29th state of India. The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2014, approved by the Rajya Sabha on Thursday amid protest, will be sent for the final approval of the President Pranab Mukherjee.
While the Lok Sabha had approved the bill on Tuesday, the Rajya Sabha Chairman PJ Kurien today`s evening declared `the bill is passed`. Moreover, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also announced special package for Seemandhra. He declared grant of Special Category Status including tax incentives to the residuary state which will comprise 13 districts as part of a six-point development package for AP`s two successor states.
However, as soon as the PM began speaking, MPs from Seemandhra, Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena held vociferous protests. Singh`s voice could not be heard under loud slogans being shouted by the MPs and his speech was disrupted.
"I hope these additional announcements will demonstrate our steadfast commitment to not just the creation of Telangana but also to the continued prosperity and welfare of Seemandhra," Singh noted. The Bill was passed by voice vote.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi`s request to the Prime Minister to give the special status to Seemandhra for five years appears to have paved the way for the historic bill`s passage and BJP came on board.
A protective cordon was thrown around Singh as well as Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde by Congress members as members from Seemandhra region as also those from TMC and Shiv Sena stormed the Well with TMC members even tearing papers and throwing them on the floor.
CPI-M members walked out in protest.
The House looked like a virtual battle-ground during the five-hour proceedings, which saw seven adjournments as members resorted to slogan shouting and tore papers describing the bill passed by the Lok Sabha as illegal.
The debate also saw the government facing an awkward situation when Union Minister Chiranjeevi, who hails from Seemandhra region, opposed the decision on Telangana inviting ridicule from BJP, which wondered whether a member of the Council of Minister can oppose a decision taken by his own government without resigning from it.
As the bill appeared set to be a reality with most of the amendments moved by the BJP either negatived or withdrawn, CPI-M and Trinamool Congress alleged "nexus" between the ruling party and the main Opposition.
(With PTI inputs)
