Article : Shri Arun Jaitley on "What is the UPA's real intent on Telangana?"

What is the UPA's real intent on Telangana?

- Arun Jaitley

Leader of Opposition (Rajya Sabha)

In the last decade the UPA government has flip-flopped on Telangana. Since 2004, it promised the creation of Telangana. The country had to wait till December, 2009 when Mr. P. Chidambaram made an announcement that the government had, in principle, decided to create the state of Telangana. The government then backtracked and instead appointed the Justice Sri Krishna Committee to examine the entire issue. The Committee led us nowhere.

The UPA in 2013 again took a decision, in principle, to create the state of Telangana. The cabinet belatedly endorsed it. The present session of Parliament is unable to proceed effectively on account of the favourable and the negative reactions which have been created by the Government’s decision. The BJP has categorically stated that it is in favour of creation of a separate state of Telangana. We have, additionally, requested that the legitimate concerns of the people of Seemandhra should be addressed. Reconciliation of both these efforts is neither difficult nor impossible. Regrettably the UPA has not taken effective steps in this direction.

I have earlier commented on the manner in which the UPA has stalemated the creation of Telangana as contradistinct from the manner in which the NDA created the three states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand in a conciliatory and smooth manner. Today, only eight working days of the current Parliamentary session are left. Two of these eight days are Fridays which are reserved for private members’ business. Effectively only six days in which legislative business are possible, remain in the current session. The Andhra Pradesh (Reorganization) Bill has not even been introduced in Parliament. Till the last minute, there is no clarity as to which of the two Houses will the Bill be introduced in. There are also lingering doubts about whether the UPA is following, legally and constitutionally, the correct course in an effort to create the state of Telangana. I have a lurking suspicion that the UPA is prolonging the issue. Is the eventual intent of the UPA to make the issue of creation of Telangana infructuous in the present session and consequently in the UPA rule?

Issues such as formation of states create a strong underlying sentiment. It is unfair for political parties to create an aspiration and not fulfill it. The UPA should immediately introduce the Andhra Pradesh (Reorganization) Bill for ratification of the both Houses of Parliament. It must ensure that to the extent possible, it balances the interests of both the regions and that the Bill is constitutionally compliant. I am looking forward to support the Bill.

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