Special session may be called for Telangana bill: Digvijaya

Hyderabad, Dec 13: A special session of parliament may be convened to pass the bill for formation of separate Telangana state, said Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh.

Winding up his two-day visit to Hyderabad, he told reporters on Friday that the government after the discussion with the opposition parties can request the president to convene a special session of the parliament for any specific reason.

He said the draft Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 was now before the state assembly and the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) at its meeting Monday will take a decision on taking up the bill for debate.

Digvijaya Singh, who is incharge of Congress party affairs in the state, said the president had given the state assembly 40 days to send back the bill with its opinion.

"The government of India after taking into consideration the opinion of the assembly decide on the bill to be presented in parliament," he said. He appealed to all parties and legislators to give free and frank opinion on each clause of the bill relating to water, law and order, common capital and other issues.

Making it clear that the decision of Congress Working Committee (CWC) to bifurcate the state is final, he said every Congressman was bound by the decision.

"We are aware of the chief minister’s statements. He was given an opportunity to present his case before CWC. Now CWC decision is final and binding on every Congressman. The chief minister is also bound by the decision," he said when asked about Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s open defiance over the issue.

Assuring people of both Seemandhra and Telangana that their interests would be protected, Digvijaya Singh urged all political parties not to give any statement which may create doubts among people and allow bifurcation to take place without much of acrimony and friction.

He also assured all people living in Hyderabad that their property and employment are fully guaranteed.

Earlier, addressing a meeting of Congress workers, he said Telangana government would have all powers except maintaining law and order in Hyderabad, which will serve as the joint capital of the two states for 10 years.

Digvijaya Singh said since most of the premier institutions are located in Hyderabad because of historical reasons, the central government would set up such premier institutions in Seemandhra region.

The government has also proposed tax concessions for investments in backward regions of Telangana and Seemandhra.

He reminded Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao of his statement that if Telangana state is created, he would gladly merge his party with the Congress.

The TRS leader recently said TRS would think of merger only after Telangana bill is passed by both houses of parliament. The sub-regional party has expressed its reservations over some clauses of the bill.