AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh in a sudden U turn on Friday said that those wanting the state remain united could propose an amendment while debating on the A.P. Reorganization Bill 2013 in the state Assembly.
It might be mentioned here that the senior central congress leader had triggered off a controversy on Thursday by commenting that there would be no voting on the T Bill being taken up for discussion in the Assembly. He reminded that the Bill had been sent to the Assembly only to seek the opinion and hence the question of voting on the Bill would not arise.
His comment brought strong objection from the Seemandhra members, especially of Telugu Desam , who had even issued a privilege notice against him the Assembly. Thus in a complete turn around made this morning in New Delhi, the AICC
neral Secretary clarified that members can propose any amendments while debating on the T Bill. He denied of making any comment that there would be no voting on the Bill. If his comments were misconstrued he was ready to reply to the privilege motion if a notice was issued to him.
Digvijay Singh further reiterated that members wanting to keep the state united have a right to move an amendment in the House accordingly and there was no point in disrupting the proceedings in the Assembly, he observed obviously referring to the disturbances and protests of YSRCP members in the Assembly.
Welcoming the ongoing debate in the Assembly on the T Bill, the AICC leader felt that it was good augur. He said the Congress Screening Committee would select the party candidates for contesting the Assembly and parliament elections. In this regard he however pointed out that since Andhra Pradesh is in the midst of a bifurcation process,
here might be some delay in the selection of party candidates from the state. Only after the Telangana issue is resolved, the party leadership would take up the selection of candidates, he added.
Meanwhile Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde stated that once the A. P. Reorganization Bill 2013 is received from the State Assembly it would be introduced in parliament. The President of India has set January 23 as the last date by which the opinion of the Assembly should be forwarded. Thus once the Assembly returns the draft Bill with its opinion, it was placed in parliament, he explained. (NSS).