Telangana bill does not reflect concerns of people in residual

Raising questions over the Telangana Bill, senior Union minister from Seemandhra M Pallam Raju today said the bill does not adequately reflect the genuine concerns of people in residual Andhra Pradesh.
"The genuine concerns of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions have not been adequately reflected in the bill," the Minister for Human Resources Development told reporters here.
The bill has sent wrong message to people in both the regions, he claimed.
His comments come in the light of the Centre pushing for the passage of AP Reorganisation Bill in Parliament.
The Union Cabinet, on Friday, approved the draft bill for creation of Telangana by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh, notwithstanding the state Assembly's rejection of the legislation.

According to Raju, the governor, who has been vested with powers to control law and order situation in Hyderabad according to the bill, could do very little to ensure the security of Seemandhra people residing in the state capital.

"They are trying to give special powers to the governor. Those are completely inadequate with the popularly elected government of Telangana, a governor will be able to do very little to protect the security concerns of people from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions," he stated.
Besides, Raju sought the merger of Bhadrachalam division with East Godavari district for implementation of the Polavaram Irrigation Project.

"Bhadrachalam division must be transferred to East Godavari district... If the government is sincere, then in its implementation will transfer Bhadrachalam to East Godavari district," he added.
The Cabinet is believed to have accepted to transfer 130 villages in Bhadrachalam division of Khamam district to Seemandhra, which is vehemently opposed by the Telangana leaders.