Telangana crosses last hurdle

New Delhi: History was made on Thursday after Parliament gave its nod for the creation of Telangana, which becomes the 29th State of the Indian Union. The Rajya Sabha debated and passed it on Thursday by voice-vote, after the Lok Sabha had approved it on Tuesday.

The Bill was passed amid chaos and high-pitched drama, after several amendments moved by BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu were negated by voice-vote. The speakers had a difficult time to make their point, as Trinamool Congress MPs moved around the House, chanting slogans and disturbing proceedings.

The Seemandhra TDP MPs were all along standing in the well of the House, holding out their placards, while the Congress MP K V P Ramachandra Rao sat in the Well, after getting exhausted. At the end of the day, the Well was littered with pieces of paper, which were torn up and thrown around by TMC MPs.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a Special Category Status for Seemandhra for five years, which was objected to by M Venkaiah Naidu, who wanted it to be extended for 10 years.

• History was made on Thursday as Parliament gave its nod for Telangana as 29th State
• Rajya Sabha sees repeated adjournments amid vociferous protests; Bill passed by voice-vote
• CPM leader Yechury’s demand for division on voting turned down by the Chair
• Several amendments moved by Venkaiah negated by voice-vote
• Well of the House littered with pieces of paper thrown around by Trinamool MPs
• Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley points out lack of constitutional validity to the T Bill

“For purposes of central assistance, the Special Category Status will be extended to the successor State of Andhra Pradesh comprising 13 districts, including the four districts of Rayalaseema and the three districts of North Coastal Andhra, for a period of five years. This will put the State's finances on a firmer footing,” he said. He also said that the Bill already stipulates that the central government shall take appropriate fiscal measures, including offer of tax incentives to the successor states in order to promote industrialisation and economic growth in both the states. Similarly, he announced special development package for the North Coastal Andhra and Rayalseema and that the Polavaram Project will be given effect to, at the earliest.

There was a commotion when M Venkaiah Naidu raised his objection of a possible gap in finances between the notified date and the appointed date, to which Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh quoted the statement made by the Prime Minister, which stated, "The appointed day for the formation of the new State will be so fixed in relation to the notified date so as to enable preparatory work relating to personnel, finance and distribution of assets and liabilities to be completed satisfactorily."

On the issue of setting up projects and institutions in Seemandhra, Venkaiah Naidu alleged that the Centre had vaguely worded it, to which Jairam Ramesh explained that when the government uses the word "shall" it means it will be done. As far as PSUs are concerned, he said that the Centre cannot force a decision on them. It is for the individual Board of Directors of each PSU like SAIL which has to take the decision while making mega investments.

The Bill was passed after the daylong drama that saw several adjournments and behind the scenes confabulations between the Opposition and the government. Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari insisted that he will not allow the Bill to be passed unless it is debated in the House. At the meeting between the government and the BJP-led Opposition, agreement was reached that the BJP leaders would not press their amendments.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley criticised the lack of homework by the UPA government and pointed out that there was no Constitutional validity to the Telangana Bill, as Clause 8 of the Bill violated the Article 163 of the Constitution. He said that the Governor was an agent of the Centre, to who law & order, which is a State subject, is being handed over. Effectively, it means that the law & order will be handled by the Centre. Law Minister Kapil Sibal rejected his argument by insisting that Article 3 vests the Centre with powers

to create a State, and the Article 4 permits the Centre to make such changes that are supplemental, incidental and consequential to creating the State. Jaitley hit back, saying that these are not supplemental and incidental, but substantive changes in the model of governance.

Before the Bill could be taken up for voting, CPM staged a walkout, registering its protest for not being allowed to press for division.

Earlier, DMK and JD (U), similarly, had walked out of the House. Demands were raised by most of the speakers, including Mayawati (BSP), Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP) and Biswajit Daimary (BPF) for creating smaller States. Likewise, some of the speakers asked for giving special packages to States like Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal, on the lines of Seemandhra.