Cong engaged in backroom talks with BJP

New Delhi: Unfazed by Andhra Pradesh Assembly rejecting the draft Telangana bill, the Congress leadership is making all-out efforts to ensure its passage in the coming session of the Parliament.

The ruling party managers have initiated back channel negotiations with the principal opposition party, the BJP, whose support is essential to pass the bill for creation of separate Telangana State.

The UPA government is also open to the idea of incorporating a majority of the amendments proposed by the BJP to honour its commitment to the people of Telengana.

The BJP plans to move half a dozen amendments to the AP Reorganisation Bill, 2013. Most of them relate to ensuring justice for Seeamndhra as the party is looking at bigger political dividends in that region through alliances.

Meanwhile, the Congress Core Committee met this morning to take stock of the situation before introduction of the much awaited Telangana Bill in Parliament. Sources said the party is quite confident of smooth sailing for the crucial Bill.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said there was no legal hurdle for the Bill.The resolution passed by the Assembly, rejecting the draft bill, would not affect the process of formation of Telangana State, legally or Constitutionally, Shinde said.

He reiterated the government's commitment to pass the Bill during the session, commencing on February 5.Highly placed sources told Metro India that preliminary negotiations had already started with the BJP though these talks are likely to pick up steam only when the Parliament convenes next week.

Giving a hint of the backroom diplomacy, senior Congress leader and Union Minister for Science and Technology S. Jaipal Reddy said his party and government were confident of the support of all those parties which have supported the Telangana cause in the past.

Answering a specific query on the BJP's plan to move amendments seeking justice to Seemandhra, Jaipal Reddy was categorical in saying that, 'we are open to reasonable amendments.

Law making does involve consultations and we are ready to consult all parties. We have done so in the past also. These talks could be on the floor, off the floor, anywhere,' he added.

Though Jaipal Reddy was guarded about what amendments could be acceptable to the government, it is now quite clear that the UPA leadership would not reject the amendments, particularly those proposed by the BJP. 'The government will look at the amendments on merits,' the sources said.

Apparently to allay fears of Telangana leaders, AICC general secretary in-charge of Andhra affairs Digvijay Singh condemned Kiran Kumar Reddy's defiance against the high command and the Centre with regard to bifurcation of the State.

Talking to the media, Digvijay expressed discontent and sought to know why neither the Chief Minister nor senior Seemandhra leaders raised the issue before Congress Working Committee or Group of Ministers which had taken a decision in favor of Telangana.

He was categorical in his remark that Kiran Kumar Reddy or Seemandhra leaders failed to bring the issue to the notice of the Centre when it was taking a decision in favor of bifurcation of the State.

At this juncture of Assembly completing the debate process, the Centre took legal and administrative procedures, he said. 'Raising the pitch now is of no use as the Centre is firm on its decision of bifurcation of the State,' he said.

Digvijay Singh rubbished the pressure built by Kiran to reject the bill through a resolution in Assembly will not have any impact on the Centre. He refuted the charge that the Centre ignored the plight of Seemandhra people.

The Centre, he said, will provide total security to Seemandhra people in Hyderabad besides addressing their demands and do justice to all. The Centre roped him in the State capital to set the issue right in the wake Assembly passing the resolution of Rajya Sabha elections and resolution passed rejecting the bill in the Assembly.

The Union Government will invoke Article 3 to divide the State as there was no legal tangle, he maintained. Any resolution, views coming from the Assembly will not be construed as binding on the Centre, he clarified.

He clarified that the Centre was firm on implementing the decision taken by Congress Working Committee. He reiterated that the winter session of Parliament will pass the bill and no hurdles come in the way.

Key amendments to Telangana bill
* Inclusion of Polavaram submergence areas into Seemandhra, leaving temple town of Bhadrachalam with Telangana
* Allocation of assured water from Krishna and Godavari rivers for all the irrigation projects under construction
* Identification of new capital for Seemandhra and allocation of funds immediately for developing the capital
* Mention of relief package for Seemandhra
* Planning Commission approval for major infrastructure projects in Seemandhra and Telangana
* Clear mention of the time period for educational access and other facilities for Seemandhra people in the common capital of Hyderabad.
* Mention of a new time-bound delimitation of seats in both the States.