Govt firm on Telangana Bill: Kamal Nath

Cong begins dialogue with BJP on its passage

New Delhi: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath on Friday announced that the government was firm on passing the Telangana Bill in the upcoming Parliament Session from February 5.

Kamal Nath said that Telangana Bill was high on the government agenda. It would push for it in the session from February 5 to 21. He said that the Assembly had been given time till January 30 to consider and return the Telangana Bill. Once it is back, the government would expeditiously process it and bring it at the earliest to Parliament and get it passed.

This announcement came soon after the Congress Core Committee met in Delhi. According to sources, the centre is keen to complete the process during the ensuing session. The party apprehends some opposition from the BJP which of late has been making certain statements that it would not accept the bill in its present form unless the Congress amends it and ensures full justice to the Seemandhra region, the Congress leaders are understood to have opened a dialogue with the BJP leaders.

The BJP is said to have indicated about some of the changes they would like to be made to the drat State Reorganisation Bill 2013. It remains to be seen as to what extend the Congress would accept the amendments. The government has set for itself a tight agenda for the Parliament session, which includes passing the Vote-on-Account (General) and Vote-on-Account (Railways). The government had also listed six pending anti-corruption Bill. The Telangana Bill, however, remains its top priority, as the government wants to pass it before the session concludes on February 21, as this is the last session before the Lok Sabha polls. The government wants to pass the Telangana Bill and deliver on its poll commitment.