Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: The Congress-led UPA government is faced with an uphill task as far as the Telangana bill is concerned. As per reports, senior leaders Digvijay Singh and Jairam Ramesh are holding talks with pro and anti-Telangana groups to defuse the tense situation and solve the issue amicably. The leaders are also in touch with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath to finalise the strategy before the bill for creation of Telangana which will most likely be brought before Parliament next week.
Also, as per reports, the Cabinet may clear the draft Telangana Bill on Thursday. A GoM meeting had finalised the bill on Tuesday and approved the Cabinet note.
Meanwhile, government employees from Seemandhra region have threatened to go on a strike if the bill is tabled in Parliament.
The first day of Parliament witnessed noisy scenes yesterday as soon as they met for the day with members from Andhra Pradesh, from Telangana as well as Seemandhra regions, cutting across party lines storming the Well. Those protesting included members from ruling Congress.
While Seemandhra members carried placards saying `Jai Samaikya Andhra Pradesh` (hail united Andhra Pradesh), Telangana members shouted slogans demanding early creation of the separate state.
The government has announced that it will take up the bill to carve out a separate Telangana state from Andhra Pradesh in the session that will conclude on February 21.
The Congress expressed confidence on Wednesday that it will be able to settle Telanagana issue amicably and ensure passage of the bill for creation of the separate state. At the AICC briefing, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, as per PTI said, "It`s a emerging situation. It`s an emotive issue and naturally emotions run high on both sides. I am confident that we will settle the issue amicably and as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said we will move forward.... I am hopeful that the bill will be passed."
His remarks came on a day when supporters of both Telangana and Seemandhra clashed with each other during a protest outside the Andhra Bhawan here in support of their demands. Supporters from both sides held separate protests outside the Bhawan and raised slogans in support of their demands.
Meanwhile, opposing creation of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy staged a sit-in in the national capital yesterday for over five hours and met President Pranab Mukherjee to request him to stop bifurcation of the state.
A host of state ministers and MLAs from the Seemandhara region were also present on the dais. Later, he was briefly joined by four central ministers - M Pallam Raju, K Samba Siva Rao, D Purandeswari, Killi Kruparani.
With PTI inputs
