Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh speaking during debate in Rajya Sabha, even the Well of the Upper House virtually turned into a battlefield with anti-Telangana protestors displaying huge placards opposing the Bill and creating uproar. File
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has played a pivotal role in the formation of separate Telangana State, trying to assuage the hurt feelings of the people of Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra Pradesh) regions and at the same time, standing firm on the passage of the State Bifurcation Bill.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh speaking during debate in Rajya Sabha, even the Well of the Upper House virtually turned into a battlefield with anti-Telangana protestors displaying huge placards opposing the Bill and creating an uproar. File
The announcement on commencement of process for formation of separate Telangana was made by P. Chidambaram, then Home Minister in Dr. Singh’s Government, on December 9, 2009, which was a defining moment for carving out separate Telangana State. But this has resulted in widespread protests across Seemandhra regions prompting the Central government to work out modalities to evolve consensus.
ManmohanSingh’s initiative to constitute Srikrishna Committee
Mr. Singh took the initiative of constituting the Justice B.N. Srikrishna Committee in 2010 tasking it with holding consultations with stakeholders across the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh in this direction. The committee gave six options, including creation of separate Telangana with Hyderabad as its capital, keeping Andhra Pradesh undivided with statutory measures for empowerment of Telangana region.
The extensive ground work done by the committee during its 11-month study subsequently paved the way for drafting the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 (popularly known as Telangana Bill) overseen by senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, then a member of Mr. Singh’s government. Mr. Singh took the initiative to hold discussions with top BJP leaders at a luncheon meeting with Telangana as the main agenda ahead of the introduction of Reorganisation Bill in the Lok Sabha which yielded positive results with both the sides reaching a near consensus.
Reorganisation Act passed in Lok Sabha on February 18, 2014
The Reorganisation Act was passed by the Lok Sabha on February 18, 2014 amid ruckus created by some members, MPs from Seemandhra region in particular, that witnessed the infamous pepper spray incident on the floor of the House by the then Congress Member of Parliament from Vijayawada Lagadapati Rajagopal.
Mr. Singh gave additional assurances to Andhra Pradesh when the Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha on February 20, 2014 which included the special category status to the successor State for receiving Central assistance. He recalled that the Bill already stipulated the Centre to take appropriate fiscal measures, including offer of tax incentives to promote industrialisation and economic growth of the two successor States and a special development package for the backward regions of successor State of Andhra Pradesh, in particular for the backward districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema regions.
The development package would be on the lines of K-B-K (Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi) special plan in Odisha and the Bundelkhand special package in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. He assured the Centre’s commitment to execute the Polavaram project besides announcing that amendments, if needed, to facilitate smooth and full rehabilitation and resettlement for Polavaram project affected families will be given effect to at the earliest.
In addition, Mr. Singh said that the resource gap that might arise in the successor State of Andhra Pradesh in the very first year, especially during the period between the appointed day (June 2, 2014) and the acceptance of 14th Finance Commission recommendations by the Central government, would be compensated in the regular Union Budget.
“The passage of the Telangana Bill indicated that this country can take difficult decisions,” Mr. Singh said during his closing remarks after the debate in Lok Sabha.
Congress lost elections in both the States
Political implications for the Congress in the two successor States, in the aftermath of the passage of the Reorganisation Act notwithstanding, Dr. Singh and the Congress stood firm on the process. The party paid the price subsequently losing elections in both the States.
Breaks silence in Upper House after over two years
Mr. Singh who remained silent in the Upper House for over two years since demitting office, broke his silence in the Rajya Sabha in August 2016 demanding that the commitment made by the UPA government for a special package to Andhra Pradesh be implemented by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
“My ggovernment announced a package for Andhra Pradesh on the floor of Parliament. This Government is honour-bound to fulfil the solemn commitment,” he said pointing out the delay in fulfilling the promise.
Published – December 27, 2024 04:50 pm IST
