Telangana Bill to be passed smoothly: Shinde

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. (IE)

A day after the Andhra Pradesh Assembly rejected the Telangana Bill, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde maintained there would be no hurdle in the creation of Telangana during the tenure of UPA-II and the Bill would be passed in the coming session of Parliament. “The Bill will be presented before the Parliament in time and it will be passed. There will be no problem,” he said.

The Home Minister said the Centre is awaiting the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill from the state Assembly after which a decision would be taken on seeking a legal opinion from the Attorney General. Constitutional experts are of the opinion that despite the Assembly’s decision, the Parliament can go ahead with its legislative process to create the new state. The Parliament session commences on February 5 and is scheduled to conclude on February 21. This will be the last session before the tenure of the UPA-II comes to an end.

The GoM, set up to look into the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, is likely to meet on February 4 to articulate the government’s view for recommending to President Pranab Mukherjee the future course of action.