Congress planning Telangana Bill for Rajya Sabha first

Congress bosses seem to have decided to introduce the Telangana Bill in the Rajya Sabha after the President sends it to the Cabinet some time in the first week of February 2014.

The party is taking the Upper House route on two counts. One, to create confidence in Telangana about its commitment to giving statehood to the region before the 2014 elections, and, two, the Bill will not lapse in the Rajya Sabha even if the Lok Sabha is unable to take it forward due to paucity of time in the Vote-on-Account Budget Session or subsequently getting dissolved.

“If the Bill is introduced in the Lok Sabha, there could be obstructions in the House from the Seemandhra MPs who are bent on opposing it. For any reason if is not approved in the session, an impression will be created in the minds of the Telangana people regarding the sincerity of the Congress. We want to avoid that,” said a key leader in the AICC.

He recalled that some important Bills like the Women’s Reservation, Lokpal and the Food Security Bills were first introduced in the RajyaSabha and then brought to the Lok Sabha. Except the Women’s Reservation Bill, the other two Bills came to the Lok Sabha subsequently and were approved.

As per the Rules and Procedure of Parliament, no Bill will lapse if it is either introduced or approved by the Rajya Sabha. Such a Bill will not lapse even if the Lok Sabha is dissolved while the legislation is pending with it.

The latest decision to introduce the Telangana Bill in the Upper House was taken because there will be no strong opposition from Seemandhra MPs whose strength in the Rajya Sabha is less, and the BJP, the main Opposition party, has declared its commitment to statehood for the region.

If the Upper House gives its nod to the Telangana Bill with whatever amendments, it will reach the Lok Sabha and it is for the House to take it forward.

“There will be psychological pressure on the parties to push forward the Bill in the Lok Sabha once it is approved by the Rajya Sabha,” said the AICC member. He said that the people will also be convinced of the sincerity of the Congress on Telangana.

Source: DC