Modi should have met commitment on Andhra's special status: Manmohan
New Delhi, July 24 : Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said that Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh was an assurance made by him on behalf of the Parliament and he had expected his successor, Narendra Modi, to fulfil it.
Speaking at a discussion on Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act in the Rajya Sabha, Singh asserted that in 2014, when the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2014 was being debated, he had made the solemn commitment on the floor of the House as Prime Minister of India.
"'For purposes of Central assistance, Special Category Status will be extended to the successor state,' this had been decided in view of the fact that the revenue collection in Hyderabad will accrue entirely to the state of newly created Telangana," he said.
He said this commitment of Special Category Status to the successor state of Andhra Pradesh had been discussed with then Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley and other senior BJP leaders.
"Government is a continuing entity. Commitments made on the floor of the house have to be honoured and fulfilled. They are in nature of assurance on behalf of the Parliament. I had expected that my distinguished successor to fulfil the commitments I had made after consultations with his own colleagues," he said.
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Problem-based discussions should be prioritised in Parliament, Assemblies: Speaker U.T. Khader
New Delhi: Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader has emphasised the need for problem-based discussions in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies, considering India’s large youth population of around 356 million. He highlighted that as a nation often referred to as ‘Young India,’ it is crucial for the youth to understand the workings of the Parliament and Legislative Assemblies.
Khader made these remarks during the Executive Committee meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, India Zone, chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, held at the Parliament House on Monday. He also stressed the importance of the Indian Youth Parliament as a model platform for young people to learn about parliamentary procedures.
In the same meeting, Parishad Chairman Basavaraja Horatti proposed that legislative sessions should be held for a minimum of 60 days annually, arguing that legislatures are the ideal platforms to address issues concerning the common people. He urged the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to take necessary steps to strengthen democracy through more frequent and focused sessions.
The meeting was attended by several prominent figures, including Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajya Sabha Deputy Speaker Harivansh Narayan Singh, Rajasthan Governor Haribavu Kishanrao Bagde, Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devanani, Indian Youth Parliament National Coordinator Ashutosh Josh, and the Secretaries of both Houses, K.R. Mahalakshmi and Vishalakshi.
