New Delhi: Congress on Thursday downplayed the rejection of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill in the state assembly, saying it was on "predicted" lines and will not affect the move for carving out a new state.
Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh.
Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh, however, made it clear that there was no plan to initiate disciplinary action against Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and other Congress leaders, who supported the resolution rejecting the AP Reorganisation Bill-2013.
"As far as the resolution is concerned, it does not affect the Constitutional provisions under Article 3 for the creation of a new state in the Indian Union...One should remember this bill was sent (to Andhra Pradesh Assembly) for comments and not for a vote," the AICC general secretary in-charge for Andhra Pradesh told reporters.
The Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Thursday passed by voice vote a resolution moved by the Chief Minister rejecting the AP Reorganisation Bill-2013 which entails creation of separate Telangana state.
Singh countered the view that the creation of the new state now hangs in balance after the state assembly rejected the proposal and insisted that that the Constitutional requirement of getting comments from the Andhra Pradesh Assembly now stands fulfilled.
"It (the bill for creation of Telangana) is not rejected. The Telangana bill was not voted (in the Assembly). A resolution moved by the Chief Minister was passed by voice vote... There is no vote on the bill. These are two different things," he said.
He maintained that the Andhra Pradesh Assembly debated, discussed and gave comments on the bill, which was referred to it by the President and after the extension of one week time today, the bill would be returned to the President.
"Therefore, the Constitutional requirement of getting comments from the Andhra Pradesh Assembly has been fulfilled. Now it is for the Government of India to introduce the bill in Parliament after the Cabinet goes through recommendations and suggestions given by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly.
"Hence the process has completed another milestone, which was necessary in the bifurcation of the state," Singh said.
Asked whether Congress looks at the development from the prism of anti-party activity, he said keeping in mind the contentious nature of the issue and strong views among both sections of Andhra Pradesh Congressmen belonging to Seemandhra and Telangana region, the party allowed a "free vote" on it.
PTI
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