NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today hoped that Parliament which is meeting tomorrow for a two-week extended session, would pass the Telangana Bill and transact the essential business which is the primary concern of any legislature in a Parliamentary democracy.
In his statement at the all-Party meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, the Prime Minister said this would be the last session of the 15th Lok Sabha and important legislations were pending for Parliament’s approval. These include Anti-corruption Bill, Women’s Reservation Bill, Control of Communal Violence Bill and the Telangana Bill. “…There is important legislation which is pending for approval by Parliament. There is important legislation relating to anti-corruption measures. There is important legislation with regard to Women’s Reservation Bill. There is important business concerning the control of communal violence,” he said. He hoped that that after a long debate extending many years, the House would pass the Telangana Bill and transact the essential business which was the primary concern of any legislature in a Parliamentary democracy. “…there is the vital issue of Telangana. We will be bringing a Bill in Parliament for its approval and I sincerely hope that after a long debate extending over many years, the House will, in its wisdom, be able to transact the business and pass the Bill relating to the creation of the state of Telangana,” the Prime Minister said.
Earlier the Prime Minister met a delegation of Telangana Rashtriya Samithi (TRS) leaders and urged them to ensure that the formation of Telangana was “peaceful”. The delegation led by TRS Chief K Chandrasekhar Rao also presented a memorandum to the Prime Minister. “Nothing should be said or done that can inflame passions I appeal to all that the bifurcation process should be peaceful,” the Prime Minister told the delegation. The meeting was held even as Members of Parliament from the Seemandhra region protested against the decision to form Telangana.
Mr Rao told reporters after the meeting that the Prime Minister had expressed commitment to the formation of Telangana and that the government would pass the Telangana Bill in the two-week extended session of Parliament beginning tomorrow. The Parliament is expected to witness noisy scenes as the Telangana Bill comes up for discussion. “He (Prime Minister) said the government is seriously committed and we will under any circumstances create the Telangana state,” Mr Rao added.
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