GoM clears Telangana Bill, to go before cabinet today

HYDERABAD: After giving several twists and turns to the issue of state bifurcation, the Centre seems to be settling for considering some key amendments to the T-bill to pacify the agitated Seemandhra leaders.

The Group of Ministers (GoM) on Telangana is understood to have recommended a special financial package for residuary State of AP to build its new capital as well as for the development of backward regions of Rayalaseema and North Andhra, post-bifurcation. However, the quantum of such a package will be decided by the 14th Finance Commission later.

According to sources, the total revenue of both the regions would be taken into account and based on it, a financial package will be worked out by the Finance Commission.

Sources said though the GoM discussed the major demand of the Seemandhra leaders to make Hyderabad a Union Territory, the panel finally felt that it would not be possible as there would be severe backlash from Telangana. Opposition from BJP is also said to be a reason for the panel's disinclination to consider UT proposal for Hyderabad.

However, according to a Union minister from Seemandhra, the GoM reluctantly agreed to advise the Union Cabinet to consider such a proposal as the Seemandhra Union ministers are pressing for it. However, the minister is not sure of the endorsement of this proposal by the Cabinet.

The GoM is understood to have been given clearance by the Prime Minister as well as the AICC leadership to forward its final recommendations for the approval of the Union Cabinet, scheduled to have its special sitting on Friday evening.

A day after Union ministers K Chiranjeevi and JD Seelam, the main proponents of 'Hyderabad UT' demand, had exuded confidence that the GoM would settle the issue in a 'please all' manner, the members of the GOM met on Thursday afternoon and finalised some key changes to the bill.

Apart from Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who is the head of the panel, other members P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Veerappa Moily and V Narayana Swamy took part in the meeting. During the meeting, the ministerial panel went through the list of nine amendments suggested by their Seemandhra colleagues.

The GOM is understood to have opted for transferring the villages that face the threat of submergence under Polavaram project to the truncated AP post-bifurcation. The panel also recommended setting up of all-India level institutes in Seemandhra.

After giving a final shape to the T-bill by making amendments to it, Shinde and Jairam called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress boss Sonia Gandhi in the evening and reportedly got their approval for the final bill.

Later in the day, Jairam Ramesh called on BJP senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu and is learnt to have explained him about the changes made by the GoM to the bill.

If the Cabinet clears the T-bill on Friday, the bill is likely to be forwarded to the President Pranab Mukherjee for his approval on the same day.

According to sources, if everything goes as expected, the T-bill might be introduced in Parliament on Monday.

The bill was earlier planned to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha. However, since the Bill has financial implications, the Centre is said to be considering tabling it the Lok Sabha first.