Telangana Bill could have been passed in a better way: Salman Khurshid

Commenting on the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill or Telangana Bill by a voice vote behidn closed doors in the Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Tuesday said the bill could have been passed in a better way.

"There were differences of opinion amongst the people of Telangana and Andhra people, and, I think, that it should have been done in a better way," said Khurshid.

"Still, it is historic event, and my appeal to all the people of Telangana and Andhra, is that they should accept this as an evolution for moving forward," he added.

"We have done what we thought was for the best, and today, if anyone is hurt, in the near future, they would realize that it has been for their betterment," he said.

The Lok Sabha passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill by voice vote, which proposes the formation of a new state of Telangana out of a united state of Andhra Pradesh.

Several members of parliament of the opposition parties like the Janata Dal (United), and the Trinamool Congress (TMC), however, decided to stage a walkout in protest over the manner in which the Bill was tabled and passed in the House.

Earlier today, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill was moved by Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha.

At a meeting convened by Speaker Meira Kumar, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj had agreed with top ministers of the government that the bill has to be passed in Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Speaker has ordered live proceedings of the Lok Sabha to be stopped so as avoid a repeat of last week's 'Pepper Spray incident' in front of the people.