KVP Bill stalled again

​New Delhi: The private member bill moved by Congress MP KVP Ramachandra Rao seeking Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh was termed a Money Bill by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Rajya Sabha and the same was referred to the Lok Sabha Speaker as per provisions by the Deputy Chairman of the House amid acrimony and vociferous protests of the Congress members.

Prior to this development, Jaitley sustained the argument of the government that the Bill could only be termed a Money Bill because of the financial implications involved thereof. Reiterating that the government was fully committed to the development of AP, he said there was a divergence in the opinion on whether it was to be treated a Money Bill or not. He said there could be no distinction between the government bill and a private member's bill.

The Rajya Sabha had no jurisdiction over the bill and all money bills must be dealt with by the Lok Sabha alone. He said as and when a dispute arose, only the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha would have the powers to decide.

As the bill sought appropriation of the consolidated fund of the Union government and every provision mentioned in it including funding the Revenue Deficit, etc, it could only be termed a money bill.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, who sought members opinion on the bill, ruled that as he had no jurisdiction over it to decide so due to the objection raised by a member, he was referring the same to the Lok Sabha's presiding officer.

This led to the Congress members rushing to the well raising slogans and seeking justice for AP forcing the House to be adjourned.

Ramachandra Rao, while thanking his party leadership, members of parties who supported and the people of AP, said the government was unnecessarily complicating the issue. Quoting the rules he said he introduced the bill only after the President gave his assent to it.