Telangana Bill passage should not send wrong message: Pallam Raju

New Delhi, Feb 18: Holding that there are severe shortcomings in the current form of Telangana Bill, Union Minister M Pallam Raju on Tuesday said it should not be passed in a manner that sends a wrong message and permanently hurt sentiments.

"As it is, a wrong message has gone to the Seemandhara people that the manner in which the Bill has proceeded is not proper. I hope that by passing the Bill in a din, another wrong message will not be given which will permanently hurt people's sentiment," Raju told reporters outside Parliament.

The Union Minister from Seemandhara region said there are severe shortcomings in the current form of the Bill for the creation of Telangana and there are concerns of the people who have settled in and around Hyderabad.

"The current provison of giving special powers to the Governor is not adequate for providing an effective security cover to people who have settled in and around Andhra and Rayalseema," Raju said.

"We are requesting that it should have Union Territory status and the Union Territory status can be for a limited timeframe till the alternate capital is established. That is the primary demand," he said.

"And as far as the financial resources are concerned, we will be in a severe constrained position and that has not been addressed satisfactorily," he added.

Asked what would be the course of action if their demands are not met, he said "We'll do our appropriate kind of protests and if necessary we will enter into the Well (of the House) if our demands are not met."

He, however, added that the Group of Ministers (GoM) was still making efforts to bridge the difference.

PTI