AP certainly needs the Special Status, even if its CM states otherwise: Vijay Sai Reddy
New Delhi: A discussion on the Special Status to Andhra Pradesh took place in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday after the YSRCP MP Vijaysai Reddy gave a notice for it earlier during the day.
The Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien allotted 15 minutes to the YSRCP MP Vijay Sai Reddy to speak on the topic; however immediately after rising to address the House, the MP made a plea to be given 20 mins as he wanted to raise important legal questions.
When the original bill was not raised as a money bill how come the amendment to the bill is to be treated as a money bill?
Vijay Sai Reddy straightaway sought to assert that the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill that was introduced as a private member bill cannot be treated as a money bill, as expressed by the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and explained the position of the bill.
He said that the AP Reorganization Act was passed by invoking Articles 3 and 4 of the Constitution and questioned “When the original bill was not raised as a money bill how come the amendment to the bill is to be treated as a money bill?”
He futher pointed out that “Every bill or almost all the bills that come to the house have some money aspects in them”, and following the Finance Minister rationale, they would all have to be taken up money bills too, which was not the practice of the house.
He reminded the house that as per the Article 110 and subclause 3 of the Indian Constitution, it is ultimately the prerogative of the Speaker to decide whether a said bill was a money bill or not, and the Speaker’s decision was binding. (If any question arises whether a Bill is a Money Bill or not, the decision of the Speaker of the House of the People thereon shall be final)
With the legal position explained, Vijay Said Reddy stated that “Even if certain amendments are to be made in the Act, there is an enabling clause in Article 4 of the constitution that allowed for the said amendments.
The MP also stated that “After bill becomes law, whenever there is a dispute the courts read the ministers statements along with the Act to interpret the law. He pointed out that none other than the PM has given assurance that that the residuary AP should be given special status to AP. He even quoted the then Finance Minister’s stated assurance that the government at the centre will take care of it.
“Parties may come and go but government stays so how can the government go back on the assurances”, he charged.
Vijay Sai Reddy also pointed out to the assurances of the then opposition BJP which stated categorically in its election manifesto that a minimum of 10 years special status will be given to residuary Andhra Pradesh which the present PM echoed in election rallies as well.
The MP said that it was unfortunate that the present AP CM has taken a paradigm shift in his stance and stated that AP does not need a Sanjeevini.
Vijay Sai Reddy criticised this stand and petitioned the House that AP certainly needed Sanjeevini and a life line, and said that the YSR Congress Party was at the forefront in demanding it for the state.
