Debate begins as time is running out

• Seemandhra members, except YSRCP, relent
• Anam assures members to provide whatever details are available
• Vatti Vasant Kumar starts debate during the fag end
• Vijayamma writes to Speaker to allow voting

Hyderabad: With the deadline for completing the draft T Bill approaching, the Seemandhra MLAs barring those from the YSRCP have agreed to participate in the debate in right earnest.

Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, during the meeting with Seemandhra leaders, assured them that the government would give whatever information that was available with them in two days time to facilitate the MLAs to take part in the debate. This would include all information on the financial aspects of the draft Bill sought by them. This paved the way for the Tourism Minister Vatti Vasant Kumar to start the debate towards the fag end of the day.

Vasant Kumar will resume his speech on Thursday. According to sources, the government is firm on continuing with the debate even by suspending those MLAs who will try to obstruct the debate. However, the YSR Congress members remained in the Well of the House, raising slogans for a resolution against the bifurcation. Vasant Kumar, who started the debate amid the din, termed the draft Bill as “undemocratic and unconstitutional” and accused the Centre of trying to divide the state against the federal spirit.

He felt that the T Bill was thrust upon the people of Andhra and Rayalaseema. He said, "We are opposing the Bill", since the State would face several losses in river water sharing, education, health and infrastructure sectors, post bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

At this stage, Telangana legislators rose to their feet and tried to raise a protest. Speaker Nadendla Manohar then adjourned the House till Thursday. Earlier in the day, the House witnessed two adjournments for an hour each as the TDP and the YSRC MLAs trooped into the Well, raising slogans against the proposed bifurcation of the State.

Soon after the day’s proceedings began at 9 am, Speaker Manohar was forced to adjourn the House for an hour as Seemandhra legislators and Telangana members trooped into the Well raising slogans for a united and a separate state respectively. The members refused to relent despite repeated appeal by the Speaker.

Manhohar said, “I have time and again been telling you to make use of the opportunity and take part in the debate. You can express your opinions and anguish in the debate.” He assured them that he would give adequate time for every Speaker to express his or her views on the Bill. However, the slogan-shouting continued and the Speaker had to adjourn the House for one hour. Normalcy could not be restored even after the House reassembled after more than two hours, leading to the second adjournment for another one hour.

Soon after the adjournment of the House for the day, TDP MLA P Kesav said they had agreed to cooperate with the government since the Finance Minister had assured them that he would furnish all necessary information. He urged him to give the information by tomorrow. YSRC Legislature Party leader YS Vijaya Lakshmi wrote to the Speaker requesting him to hold voting on the T Bill using the special powers he enjoys under Assembly Rules 359, 360 and 361 when the House debates it.