New Delhi: Demanding the early tabling of a revised Bill in Parliament that grants special status to Hyderabad-Karnataka region, BJP Monday hit out at Congress for trying to give political colour to the issue and gain political mileage out of it.
BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu also urged the Centre to immediately hold consultations with the Karnataka government and bring the legislation at the earliest after taking into account the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs.
Naidu is the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs.
"Some Congress leaders of the state are trying to create misunderstanding in the minds of people by criticising the BJP and charging it of `delaying tactics`. Unfortunately, they are trying to give political colour.
"To make it a political issue and trying to gain political mileage is not in the interest of anybody. They should understand it. They should immediately consult the state government and then move forward at the earliest," Naidu said here.
He said members of various political parties have put forth their views before the Parliamentary Standing Committee and all agree that the state government should be consulted and taken on board before bringing such a Bill.
"Various political parties have said before the Committee that it is against the Constitution, it is against the Federal system, as bringing the state government on board on such a legislation is necessary," Naidu said.
Naidu said instead of blaming the Parliamentary panel, if the government was sincere on the issue then it should bring an amended Bill before Parliament after taking on board the state government.
"If government of the day is sincere, it will not take time. If government of the day has the will, it can bring the Bill and get it approved within days," he said, citing the example of a Bill in May, 2010 which was brought, passed and notified within days at the behest of DMK.
"This is a matter on which everybody has interest and want speedy approval of the same," he said, urging the Centre to bring the Bill early.
Naidu said the Committee has given its recommendations and it is up to the Centre to act or not to act.
The Parliamentary panel had sent back the Bill to the Centre rejecting it and recommending it to bring an amended Bill in consultation with the Karnataka government.
PTI
