Live
- PIL in SC seeks direction to designate BMC as sole planning, sanctioning authority for Mumbai
- 3rd Test: Centuries from Head, Smith help dominant Australia feast on listless India
- AAP final list of 38 names in Delhi: Kejriwal, CM Atishi retain seats
- Tributes Paid to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on His Death Anniversary at CM Revanth Reddy's Residence
- In just one year, Bhajanlal govt wins hearts of people
- CM Chandrababu announces establishment of Potti Sriramulu Telugu University
- Sutume, Kissa win World 25K Kolkata; India's Gulveer makes course record
- US accounts for 18 per cent of Indian exports in FY24
- Will end Naxalism in Chhattisgarh by March 2026: Amit Shah
- Will gift one project daily to people during Jan Kalyan Parv
Guv gets free hand to deal with AP, TS issues
In a first major review of the cash-for-vote scam involving TDP leaders, the Union Home Ministry here on Friday, advised Governor E S L Narasimhan to stay the course unmindful of the political pressures and media speculations. It has also decided to urge all concerned to speed up the postbifurcation processes that have been either stalled or going slow due to various reasons so far.
Home Ministry satisfied with law and order in Hyd
New Delhi: In a first major review of the cash-for-vote scam involving TDP leaders, the Union Home Ministry here on Friday, advised Governor E S L Narasimhan to stay the course unmindful of the political pressures and media speculations. It has also decided to urge all concerned to speed up the postbifurcation processes that have been either stalled or going slow due to various reasons so far.
Issues such as the implications of the FSL report and the possible moves of the Telangana Government which could create a law and order situation were discussed at the meeting. The Home Ministry is said to have promised the Governor all help in dealing with any eventuality. The Governor, who came to Delhi on Thursday, first met Union Home Secretary L C Goyal for about 15 minutes and then Home Minister Rajnath Singh for about 50 minutes on Friday morning.
.jpg)
Senior officials of the department, including Goyal were present most of the time. The Governor is said to have updated the Home Ministry on the ACB case and also on the possible scenario of its course. The discussion also centered round the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) findings and the implications of the same if the Telangana Government decides to go ahead with pressing charges against the AP Chief Minister.
Mulling over all "possibilities and the potential situations", the Home Ministry is said to have advised the Governor to use his discretion in exercising s powers. Referring to the demand of the AP Government that Section 8 of the AP Reorganisation (2014) Act be invoked fully, the home ministry is understood to have expressed satisfaction over the law and order situation in Hyderabad, a common capital, so far.
On the contentious issues delaying the post-bifurcation processes, the ministry is understood to have asked the Governor to look into the delays and the reasons thereof in distribution of assets between the two States. All issues falling under Section 9 and 10 were broached and the Governor is presumed to have suggested to the ministry to exert pressure on the committees dealing with the same.
The ministry is no mood to bundle all the issues and deal with the bulk simultaneously. Rather, it would be wiser to de-link - Section 8, legal case, phone-tapping allegations, bifurcation processes continuing till date - each of it and attempt to resolve the disputes separately and speedily, it was reportedly concluded.
The meeting also broached the Election Commission's intervention and decided to adopt a wait-and-watch approach on the outcome. The meeting in effect conveyed to the Governor that there was no need to tie oneself up in knots over the attempts by a section to mix up the cash-for-vote case with other issues.
"Cash for vote is one. Phone tapping allegation is another. Employees’ problems are the third. Assets distribution and ownership issues are different. Section 8 is everything apart..." the meeting concluded with a suggestion to adopt a "deal with each separately attitude". With these minor, yet vital, course corrections, the Governor left for Hyderabad in the evening.
He is now expected to talk to the committee members dealing with employees and assets bifurcation and direct them to speed up the process. The Governor in the end was given a free hand to deal with the matter on a day-to-day basis depending on the exigencies. The Telangana and AP Governments could be advised to exercise restraint till the employees bifurcation process is completed. On the political front, the Centre was all for continuing its neutrality.
The hyper-activism of the Telugu media also cropped up in the discussions. Exiting from the meeting, the Governor dismissed reports appearing in a section of the media as "speculative and extreme adventures". He refused to divulge any details and said the media was at liberty to continue its kite-flying business. His cryptic remark when persistent media continued to pose questions was "Nothing sensational. Just routine business."
By:W CHANDRAKANTH
