Assembly begins debate on Telangana Bill

Hyderabad, Jan 8 (INN): After four days of impasse and two adjournments during the day, the Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday began the debate on AP State Reorganisation Bill, 2013.

Speaker Nadendla Manohar adjourned the House on two occasions on Wednesday following uproar created by the legislators from the Seemandhra region. As soon as the House met at 9 AM today, the TDP MLAs from the Seemandhra region trooped in the well while the Congress MLAs resorted to slogan shouting. A few moments later, the YSRCP MLAs too rushed near the podium.

Deputy Chief Minsiter Damodar Rajanarasimha, ministers K Jana Reddy and S Sailajnath and Government Chief Whip Gandra Venkataramana Reddy were seen standing near their seats. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy too entered the House while the Seemandhra MLAs were stalling the proceedings.

Meanwhile, the Speaker rejected the adjournment motions moved by TDP's Hari Prasad and YSRCP's Vijaya Lakshmi seeking resolution on united Andhra Pradesh and another one moved by CPI's G Mallesh seekign compensation for the victims of Mahabubnagar bus fire accident.

Following uproar, the Speaker adjourned the House for one hour. However, similar conditions prevailed when the House re-assembled at about 11.06 AM and within two-three minutes, the Speaker again adjourned it for one hour.

Situation changed a bit when the House re-assembled at about 1.27 PM. Amid slogan shouting by the Congress, YSRCP and TDP members, the Speaker asked Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy to make a statement.

The Finance Minister informed the House that TDP members have sought some clarifications on the Telangana Bill during the meeting of Business Advisory Committee.

He said that the government was in receipt of clarifications through the Speaker and the same would be conveyed to the TDP in a day or two. He appealed to the members to participate in the debate. Following this announcement, the TDP MLAs returned to their seats.

The Speaker then asked minister Vatti Vasanth Kumar to speak on the Telangana Bill. Stating that he strongly opposes the Bill, Vatti said that the legislation needs to be debated thoroughly.

He said there were several glitches in the Bill and it should be debated and put to voting clause-by-clause. He hoped that the debate would put at an end to uncertainty.

While the minister was speaking on the Bill, the YSRCP members were seen throwing some papers at the Speaker's podium. The Speaker then adjourned the House for the day at about 1.35 PM.