Cabinet cleared Telangana Bill and decided not to give UT status to Hyderabad

Union Cabinet on 7 February 2014 cleared the Telangana Bill with minimum changes in it and decided that Hyderabad will not get the status of a Union Territory. Till now, the leaders of Seemandhra demands included grant of a Union Territory to Hyderabad. This clearance of the Telangana Bill has paved the way for introduction of it in the Parliament.

Now, the bill will be sent to the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee for his consent and then will be placed in Rajya Sabha on 12 February 2014 in the present form and the government will move 32 amendments. The amendments include some administrative aspects of the bifurcation of the state.

The bill, which was sent back by the Andhra Pradesh Legislature after its discussions in two houses, has got the nod at its special meeting held in New Delhi. The Cabinet has also decided not to accept the demand of the Seemendhra region for making Hyderabad a Union Territory. As earlier decided, Hyderabad will remain as the joint capital of both the states for a maximum period of 10 years after that it will belong to Telangana. Apart from this, the Rayala Telangana proposal was also shelved by the Cabinet.