Chiranjeevi slams govt

• Central government acted in haste at every step
• Articulates serious concerns of Seemandhra

To BJP objection that how he could speak against the government, being a member of the Council of Ministers, RajyaSabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, in his ruling, said it was up to Chiranjeevi to decide whether it was ethical to be a Minister and yet speak against the government. He said he could not dictate what a member should say

Causing a serious embarrassment for the Congress-led UPA Government, and that, too, in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi slammed the Centre for the process it adopted for the creation of Telangana. Chiranjeevi accused the government of acting in haste at every step, especially on an issue concerning 11 crore people.

Participating in the debate on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2014, in the Rajya Sabha, Chiranjeevi articulated the misgivings of the people of Seemandhra region on the entire process adopted by the Government. Chiranjeevi said being a Congressman, speaking against his own party was painful. “This is my maiden speech. There is a rule that you have to listen to me. I am speaking on behalf of all the Telugus. All the Telugus love me and made me what I am today. I request the House to kindly pause and think on what I say.”

Chiranjeevi recalled that when he merged his Praja Rajyam Party with the Congress, the first question he was asked by the media was on his stand on Telangana. His response was that since he had become a part of the Congress, he would abide by whatever decision is taken by the Congress High Command.

However, Chiranjeevi regretted that at every step, the Centre acted in haste. When Sri Krishna Committee gave its report, no discussion was held in Parliament. The Committee observed that keeping Andhra Pradesh united was the best option. When the Congress Working Committee (CWC) announced its decision on July 30, 2013, on the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, no one from the other regions was consulted, except the Chief Minister. Later, A K Antony Committee was set up, raising expectations that everyone would be heard. That was never to be. Similarly, in the Union Cabinet, it was brought as table item.

As Chiranjeevi was battering the Government, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley rose on a point of order. Arun Jaitley pointed out that Chiranjeevi was part of Council of Ministers and was bound by the principle of collective responsibility of the government. “Is he entitled to speak in substance against the Bill proposed by his own Government? My government is in favour but I am against Telangana is what he is saying. How can a Minister speak against his own government? He has to first resign as the Minister and then speak against the Government. On the contrary, he is reading out virtues of consistency to us. Our amendment is meant to make a defect-free Telangana Bill,” he said. Arun Jaitley demanded that the Chair should give a ruling on the point of order raised by him. M Venkaiah Naidu also supported Arun Jaitley.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, in his ruling, said it was up to the Treasury Benches to decide whom they want to field as the Speaker. It was up to the member to decide what to speak and the Chair cannot decide and dictate to him what to speak. It was up to the member and Minister to decide whether it was ethical to be a Minister and speak against the Government.

Chiranjeevi responded, by saying, “I am speaking on behalf of the people. You have to respect the emotions of the people. We are the representatives of the people first and foremost and anything else only after that.”

Hyderabad, he insisted, should be made a Union Territory at least for 10 years, as long as it the Common Capital for the two States. He also favoured merger of Kurnool and Anantapur to be part of Telangana. He wanted the Centre to take full responsibility for the completion of the Polavaram Project. He favoured financial package to fill the revenue-deficit. The residuary State of Andhra Pradesh should be given special category status, he said. Special package has to be given to Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions.

V Hanumanth Rao, Rapolu Anand Bhaskar and M A Khan (Cong) and Gundu Sudha Rani (TDP), all of whom hail from Telangana region, backed the creation of Telangana. Hanumantha Rao backed financial package for Seemandhra and Anand Bhaskar thanked Congress President Sonia Gandhi for creating Telangana and said the 60-year-long struggle had borne fruit now.

M A Khan said they had no objection against a special package for Seemandhra. On the other hand, he asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to give special package to Seemandhra.

C M Ramesh and Y S Chowdhury (TDP) hit out at the Congress-led UPA Government for its decision on bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and creation of Telangana. C M Ramesh said it was an illegal Bill. Y S Chowdhury attacked the government for the process it adopted and said it was totally undemocratic. For 10 years, the Congress-led UPA government had been in power and did nothing to implement what was in its Election Manifesto of 2004. Just before the elections, the Congress woke up to it. The TDP leader listed out how the government had bungled at every step and at every stage, but the Chair expunged the remarks against Lok Sabha.