Sonia gives strict instructions to pass T-Bill in LS today

The Congress chief met Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath and Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to chalk out a strategy on the controversial legislation. Vicky Nanjappa reports  

The Telangana Bill is expected to get a nod in Parliament by 4.30 pm on Tuesday.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has made it clear to all her ministers and lawmakers in Parliament that she does not want any further delay in the passage of the bill.

However, the Congress has kept Wednesday as a reserve day in case the bill is stalled on Tuesday. 

The Congress core committee is scheduled to meet on the Telangana issue in New Delhi at 5 pm to discuss the future course of action in Andhra Pradesh. At the meet, the party will decide on whether to appoint a new chief minister or impose President’s rule in the state if Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy quits.

Sources tell rediff.com that Reddy has made up his mind to tender his resignation by 3 pm on Tuesday.

The Congress, which has moved the bill with 62 amendments, is making a desperate push to pass it.

Thirty amendments have been suggested by the government, while 32 by the Bharatyiya Janata Party, which includes a special package for Seema-Andhra. The BJP has agreed in principle to pass the bill if all amendments are considered.

Sonia met Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath and Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Tuesday morning and chalked out a strategy for the T-Bill. She insisted that the bill is passed on Tuesday and the matter should come up before the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Image: Congress President Sonia Gandhi