Tuesday, Feb 18, 2014
Hyderabad India’s lower house of Parliament, the Lok Sabha, yesterday passed the historic Andhra Pradesh State Reorganization Bill by a voice vote, amid unprecedented pandemonium, to divide one of the biggest states into two and create the 29th Indian state of Telangana.
The much awaited Telangana bill was taken up for debate by the Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar at 3 pm after three adjournments forced by the lawmakers from Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh opposing the division of the state. They were supported by members of smaller parties, including Trinamool Congress which rules West Bengal.
As Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde initiated the brief debate assuring all the stakeholders, including people of Seemandhra region, full justice, there were 40 MPs standing in the well of the House shouting slogans against the UPA government, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Unlike earlier in the day when such interruptions led to adjournment of the House, the Speaker continued the House. But the telecast of proceedings of Lok Sabha TV channel stopped.
After a brief speech by the Home Minister, leader of main opposition BJP Sushma Swaraj took the floor and dropped a bombshell on the opponents of the bill by announcing that her party will support it. With the entire debate over in 23 minutes the House passed the bill by a voice vote.
The bill, which will now be sent to upper House Rajya Sabha tomorrow, gives Hyderabad the status of joint capital for ten years. The law and order of Hyderabad will be in the hands of the governor.
Three Andhra Pradesh ministers from Seemandhra resigned in protest while Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy is all set to quit Wednesday. Telangana erupted in joy Tuesday while protests broke out in Seemandhra. Telangana supporters in Hyderabad and nine other districts of the region burst firecrackers and distributed sweets.
By Mohammed Siddique Correspondent
Gulf News 2014. All rights reserved.
