T Bill unlikely in winter session

Digvijay says President may convene special session

Centre will address all concerns of both regions

AP Assembly will express its opinion; no voting

Hyderabad: AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh on Friday gave clear indications that the Telangana Bill may not be tabled during the ongoing winter session of Parliament.

At a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan at the end of his two-day visit to the state, Digvijay, however, expressed confidence that the Bill would soon be passed by the Lok Sabha and that the President might convene a special session of Parliament, if required. He said the President had given 40 days time for the draft T bill to be passed by the legislature while the winter session of the Parliament ends on December 20.

Asked if there would be voting on the Bill he said the legislature would give its opinion and send it back to the President.

Asked about the strident attitude of the Chief Minister, Digvijay Singh said the party was aware of the statements made by the CM. Though Kiran had presented his case very effectively before the recently held Core Committee meeting, he was bound by the CWC decision.

The Congress leader criticised the TDP and the YSRCP for changing their stand on bifurcation which had led to acrimony between the Telangana and the Seemandhra leaders. He assured Telangana and Seemandhra people that the union government would take into consideration all the issues that would arise out of the bifurcation.

Centre was committed to ensuring development in every sector in the two regions once the state was bifurcated. All premier institutes would also be set up in the residual state of AP on par the institutions were development in Hyderabad.

Digvijay said the Centre was contemplating tax concession for investment in the backward Telangana and Seemandhra regions.