GoM gives final shape to Telangana bill

The Group of Ministers (GoM) on Telangana Tuesday gave final shape to the Telangana bill with minor amendments, said official sources. It will now be sent to the union cabinet for its approval.

The GoM, at its meeting in the national capital, went through the report received from Andhra Pradesh legislature about the debate in both the houses and the suggestions and amendments proposed by the legislators, the sources said.

The meeting chaired by union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde finalised the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 without any major changes.

The bill will now go to the union cabinet, which is likely to approve it at its meeting Thursday and send the same to the president with a recommendation to forward the same to parliament.

Earlier, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, a member of the GoM, held a meeting with senior officials to give final touches to the bill before the GoM finalized it.

As Ramesh reached the North Block for the meeting, leaders of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) from Seemandhra opposing the bifurcation, heckled him.

Mild tension prevailed as the slogan-shouting leaders tried to block his way even as the policemen came to his rescue. The agitated leaders including MPs and state legislators were whisked away by police.

The TDP leaders were demanding that the GoM not move forward on the bifurcation process in view of the resolutions passed in the state legislature rejecting the bill.

Andhra Pradesh assembly and council on Jan 30 had completed the debate on the bill sent by the president for the legislature's opinion under article 3 of the constitution.

Both the houses also passed resolutions, by a voice vote, rejecting the bill and requesting the president not to forward the bill to parliament.