CONSENSUS ON ANDHRA SPECIAL STATUS BILL

The government and opposition Congress seem to have arrived at a consensus on the contentious private member’s bill demanding special status for Andhra Pradesh. Leader of the House Arun Jaitley said on Tuesday that it was a money bill and Rajya Sabha cannot vote on it, as demanded by the Congress -- under constitutional provisions. Congress is in agreement with the government’s proposal that the issue can be taken up in the Rajya Sabha in the form of a short-duration discussion. And, the government striking a conciliatory tone, would agree to make a mention that special status to Andhra Pradesh was agreed upon by a former Prime Minister.