Andhra assembly to move to protect jobs for locals in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, March 17 : The Andhra Pradesh assembly will Thursday pass a resolution urging the central government to bring an amendment to the Presidential Order to protect jobs for the Telangana people in Hyderabad.

At an all-party meet convened Wednesday evening to discuss the Supreme Court's refusal to review its order declaring Hyderabad a "free zone" for recruitments in government jobs, the Congress government agreed to bring the resolution. Leaders of all the parties were unanimous that the relevant paragraph of the Presidential Order relating to jobs for locals in Hyderabad should be amended to set aside the court order. Minister for Information and Public Relations Geeta Reddy told reporters after the meeting that the resolution would be sent to the central government and the home ministry would refer it to the Indian president. The decision came a day after the Supreme Court refused to admit a petition of the state government, seeking a review of its earlier order declaring Hyderabad a free zone for recruitments in police department. Earlier, opposition parties stalled the proceedings of the state assembly over the issue, forcing Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to invite an all-party meeting to discuss future course of action. Rosaiah told the assembly that he had no objection to passing a resolution urging the central government to bring an amendment to set aside the Supreme Court order. "Hyderabad is part of sixth zone and not a free zone. Nobody needs to have any doubts over this," Rosaiah told the agitated members. He said the issue was sensitive and in Supreme Court and hence could not be discussed in an open house. Later, Congress MPs from Telangana urged Rosaiah to pass a resolution in the assembly. Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao, who had revived movement for separate statehood to Telangana following the Supreme Court order last year, warned the government of serious consequences if it failed to protect the interests of Telangana people. In October last year, the Supreme Court had declared that Hyderabad was not a part of Telangana but a free zone as far as recruitments and postings in government were concerned. This would mean that people from all parts of the state would have equal rights in jobs, postings and promotions in Hyderabad. People of Telangana had so far been enjoying local area status here with 70 percent quota in government jobs all these years. Hyderabad had remained part of sixth zone along with Ranga Reddy, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Medak districts of Telangana. Telangana, which comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad, was merged with then Andhra State in 1956 to form Andhra Pradesh. But the people of Telangana were given certain safeguards in appointments under the Gentlemen's Agreement of 1956 and a subsequent Presidential Order and six point formula.
=======================================================