Given the spirited opposition to the passage of the Telangana Bill in Parliament, the UPA government on Monday announced that it will be debated in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
“Telangana Bill will come up for discussion in Lok Sabha on 18th. Those who want to oppose can do so in a parliamentary manner,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said.
The announcement comes on a day when the YSR Congress is organising a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi against the division of Andhra Pradesh. As many as eight train full loads of party workers have arrived in Delhi from various parts of AP, reports said.
The forum for protection of integrated AP, led by the Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers (APNGOs) Association, would also be organising a protests this week in Delhi. The forum plans to hold a public meeting at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi against division.
The APNGOs and other protagonists of integrated Andhra Pradesh have been camping in Delhi to campaign against the proposed division.
Meanwhile, the separate statehood supporters have been making efforts for the passage of the Telangana Bill.
TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao, his party MLAs and the leaders of other pro-Telangana parties and outfits have also been camping in Delhi to drum up support for the Bill.
Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in Delhi has been the venue for many a protest and clashes over the contentious issue during the last couple of weeks.
In a new low in India’s parliamentary history, pepper spray was used in the Lok Sabha on February 13 resulting in hospitalisation of three MPs following a ruckus over introduction of the Telangana bill after which 16 Andhra Pradesh MPs were suspended.
Some Union ministers from Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh have met LK Advani seeking BJP’s support for a package for the region following the decision to create a separate Telangana state.
