Telangana Bill Is Sensitive: CM

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday described the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 as sensitive, and said that such a Bill was never discussed by state Legislatures in the past.

Speaking for the first time since the tabling of the Telangana Bill in the state Legislative Council, the Chief Minister said that there was clarity on how the debate should take place. He requested Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar and Council chairman Dr. A Chakrapani to call for a meeting of the Business Advisory Committees, if required, to set the procedure for the debate.

The Chief Minister said that the debate should be within the framework of the Constitution, and its rules and traditions. He advised all the members to refrain from making provocative statements, and to remain careful in the use of language and words during the debate. He said that their statements should not hurt anybody.

Kiran Kumar Reddy, who has always made his opposition to the state's bifurcation clear, also cited instances of debates in the Assemblies of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar before the formation of Uttarakhand and Jharkhand.

However, Opposition Leader in the Council Yanamala Ramakrishnudu objected to the Chief Minister's statement, and said that he was not empowered to direct the Presiding Officers on how to run the House and conduct the debate. This objection angered the Congress legislators, and led to pandemonium and slogan-shouting.

Amid furore, the Council Chairman adjourned the Council till January 3. (INN)