Kiran does not know Constitution says Jairam Ramesh

Union Minister Jairam Ramesh asserted that the UPA Government has decided to form Telangana and a complete bill will be presented in Parliament’s Budget Session “addressing all issues and concerns”.

“He (Kiran) was not sound enough on the Constitution,” said Jairam Ramesh, when asked about the Chief Minister’s allegation that the Bill violated not only Parliamentary procedures but also the Constitution. He said that the Centre has referred the Telangana Bill to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly seeking its opinion and its acceptance is not mandatory as the Constitution clearly states that the issue of formation of a new state is purely with the Centre.

“States cannot interfere in the subject,” the minister, who is also member of GoM, said. He quoted earlier instances in which the Supreme Court has clearly said that subject was with the Union Government. Meanwhile, sources said the GoM constituted to carve out Telangana would meet once again after January 30 to undertake a final exercise on the matter.