Hyderabad: Newly appointed Minister for Legislative Affairs S. Sailajanath has on Friday asserted that the debate on the A. P. Reorganization Bill, 2013, had not commenced in the Assembly, as was being claimed by the separationists.

In an informal chat with the media, Shailajanath while asserting that the debate had not yet commenced in the Assembly pointed out that he had come to this conclusion after perusing the records of the proceedings. He explained that the records did not mention anywhere about the commencement of the debate though an exercise was made as to how to take this subject.

The new Legislative Affairs Minister declared that the Business Advisory Committee would meet again and take a decision on the date on which the debate has to be initiated in the House.

It is pertinent to recall here that the Telangana Congress leaders, including ministers besides the TRS, BJP and TDP members from the region have been proclaiming that the debate on the T Bill had commenced in the Assembly before it was adjourned by Deputy Speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.

Even Minister for Civil Supplies D. Sridhar Babu, who was then holding charge of Legislative Affairs, had declared that the debate on the T Bill had begun in the House before it was adjourned for Christmas vacation.