Dismissing senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh’s claim that the Constitution needed to be amended for creation of a separate state, Telangana Rashtra Samithi secretary-general K Keshava Rao has said there is no need for such an amendment.
“Creation of a new state under Articles 2 and 3 do not require any special amendment to the Constitution. A state is formed through a simple law under Art 3 and passed by Parliament by a simple majority,’’ he told reporters here on Friday.
“The changes in Schedule 1 and 4 of the Constitution _ pertaining to the number of the state, name and representation in Parliament (seats) _ are taken care of by the said bill. It is not construed as an amendment to the Constitution under Art 368. Article 4 ensures this, saying that any law passed under Art 2 and 3 making any changes to Schedule 1 and 4, as also other provisions as deemed fit by Parliament shall not be construed as amendments to Constitution under Article 368.
“Any special provisions enjoyed by a state under Art 371, as in the case of Andhra Pradesh, become either infractuous or taken care of by the provisions of the said bill under Article 3. Any special provisions existing today for AP under Article 371 and thereof are either taken care of by the bill before Parliament or become infructuous by the birth of the new state.
“The Bihar Reorganisation Bill, which created Jharkhand, repealed a few of the special provisions enjoyed by the Jharkhand region as also some provisions becoming infructuous. Similar was the case with a couple states created in the North-East,” he explained.
TRS WILL EXIST: Asked about the future of TRS after the formation of Telangana state, Keshava Rao said: “If the Congress comes to power in a separate T state, its high command will be influenced by Seemandhra leaders and the administration will be run accordingly. The dream of Telangana people will be realised only by those who have fought for statehood. Only the TRS will deliver the goods for the people of the region,” Rao said.