Prez gives 7 more days to AP House on T-bill debate

President Pranab Mukherjee has given time till January 30 to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly to conclude the debate on the draft Telangana bill. The AP assembly had sought four weeks extension to the deadline ending Thursday to return the bill to the President.
Official sources said the Andhra Pradesh (Reorganisation) Bill now has to be returned by the state Assembly by January 30 with or without its view.
Making the government’s stand clear, home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Thursday said the government is committed to bringing the bill for the creation of a separate Telangana state, in Parliament in the forthcoming session. “We are clear in our mind that the Telangana bill will be brought in this session of Parliament. It is a commitment we have made. Let us see if the Andhra Pradesh assembly passes a resolution by January 30,” Mr Shinde said.
Top sources said the MHA is keen to get the Union Cabinet’s nod before February 5 which will pave way for the government to bring the bill in Parliament to ratify the bifurcation of the state in the forthcoming session. MHA officials also said the AP Assembly resolution is not binding under the Article 3 of the Constitution which vests powers in the Parliament to alter the boundaries of any state.