Is the UPA government beginning to slow down the process of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh?
Some political observers raised this doubt as the Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Wednesday announced the Centre's decision to convene an all-party meeting on the Telangana issue early November. The decision to do so was conveyed by Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.
However, principle parties in Andhra Pradesh like the YSRC and the TDP may not attend the meeting considering their stand on the issue of splitting AP and the alleged injustice being done to Seemandhra region.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has identified four 'principal issues for consideration', including the contentious Article 371-D, for the consideration of the Group of Ministers constituted to too look into the state’s bifurcation.
In what could be a boost for the pro-united state forces, the MHA made it clear that “the Presidential Order would need to be recast by amending the Article 371D (which provides special status to Andhra Pradesh) and any other safeguards for education and employment in Hyderabad”.
The MHA has sent an 85-page ‘Background note for the GoM regarding the creation of the state of Telangana from the existing Andhra Pradesh’, a copy of which is available with this newspaper.
Significantly, this newspaper had reported the Telangana note circulated to the Union Cabinet recognised the need to either amend or repeal the Article, but the MHA tried to postpone the exercise till the state is carved out.
Because of its inclusion in the Seventh Schedule, the amendment or repeal of Article 371D requires approval of Parliament with two-third members present and supporting the changes besides approval by 50 per cent of state legislatures.
