Sonia puts Telangana on Fast Track
New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi is understood to have conveyed to her party managers in unambiguous terms that they should ensure the passage of the Telangana bill in next month's Winter Session of Parliament at any cost.
According to informed sources, the directive was issued to AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh and through him, to others involved in the exercise for the creation of the Telangana State.
The flurry of activity Delhi has been witnessing recently is said to be the direct outcome of her message that she would brook no delay in completing the formalities before the bill could be tabled in Parliament.
The GoM, which had a meeting only on Nov 7, will meet again Monday ' this time, with secretaries of all ministries connected with the division issue.
The next two days will see confabulations with representatives of political parties from the State. On Nov 18, the last meeting with Union ministers from the State will be held, by when, the GoM hopes to get the draft bill ready for their comments.
Even as the Congress and Union Ministers are working to follow the command of Sonia, they seem to be concerned over the little time they are left with to complete the work.
Sonia wants the bill to be introduced within the first few days after the Winter Session commences on Dec 5 so that there is enough cushion in case the Opposition disrupts the business of the House on other issues.
Floor management with the BJP on the T bill is another task assigned to the group handling the issue.
It now transpires that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who continues to indulge in public posturing against division, need not move the bill in the Assembly after it is referred by the President.
'Since the reference from President will be to the Assembly, it is enough if the Speaker places it before the House for expression of its views,' a source said.
If a resolution has to be moved, it will have to be either by the Chief Minister or the Legislative Affairs Minister. But, such a need does not arise now ' it will save the Congress high command and the Chief Minister from any embarrassment.
News Posted: 11 November, 2013
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