Telangana Bill: All eyes on President

Hyderabad: With the deadline for completing the debate on draft T Bill is approaching, tension appears to be building among Seemandhra and T legislators. While Seemandhra legislators are looking towards the President Pranab Mukherjee and feel that he would grant at least another two weeks time, the T leaders are hoping against hope that he will reject the demand.

MP Ananta Venkatarami Reddy and Vundavalli Arun Kumar on Sunday met the chairman of AP legislative Council A Chakrapani at his chambers and discussed with him the chances of extending the deadline.

Later, in an informal chat with media, they expressed hope that President would give a grace period of another 10-15 days to complete the debate on draft T Bill. This, they felt, would also help Congress in conducting the Rajya Sabha elections due to be held on February 7.

However, T leaders do not agree with them. Minister D Sridhar Babu said the Seemandhra leaders had no right to urge the President to extend the deadline. They had deliberately wasted most part of the 40 days time period given to them.

He said that in case of the three State formed during NDA regime, the respective state Assemblies were not in session when the draft bills were sent to them and hence they were given additional time.

However, former PCC chief D Srinivas feels that even if 10 more days time is given to the Assembly to discuss the bill, it will not come in the way of introducing the bill in the Parliament. Panchayat Raj Minister K Jana Reddy said no force could stop formation of Telangana State. He said the process of bifurcation of the State would be over in the coming two months period. MP Madhu Yashki Goud on Sunday said, "The T bill will be introduced in the ensuing session of Parliament”