Telangana bill passed in Lok Sabha - TeluguPeople.com News

New Delhi, February 18: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Telangana bill by voice vote amid attempts by several MPs to disrupt the proceedings. Chaos was the order of the day as MPs suspended for earlier fierce protests over the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh attempted to enter the House while the bill was being discussed.

Marshals were called in to stop the lawmakers from disrupting proceedings inside Parliament, while Speaker Meria Kumar asked for the telecast of the session to be stopped, TV channels reported.

Unfazed by vociferous protests, the Central government on Tuesday moved the controversial Telangana bill for consideration and passage in Lok Sabha.

Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde moved the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2014 for consideration even though ministers and MPs from Seemandhra region trooped into the Well of the House opposing bifurcation of the state. "I already moved the bill... it is to be taken into consideration and passing," said Shinde.

News channels reported that after last week's unprecedented scenes in Lok Sabha when expelled Seemandhra Congress MP L Rajagopal used pepper spray on the floor of the House, marshals, ambulances and fire brigade vehicles have been kept on a standby.

Vehicles approaching the Parliament building are being checked and barricades have been put all around the complex with riot police also deployed.

Member had to walk to the Parliament building as the main entrance was blocked for vehicles. Their bags were also checked and they have been barred from filming videos or taking photos in the house. The speaker will decide on whether lawmakers will also be frisked or subjected to a body scan, according to reports.

Sixteen members from the region, belonging to Congress, Telegu Desam Party (TDP) and YSR Congress, were suspended from the House last Thursday till February 20 after unprecedented pandemonium.

Earlier, Shinde as well as Union minister Jairam Ramesh met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to inform him about the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) stand.

The government on Monday had assured the BJP of addressing its concerns on the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh before taking up the highly contentious Telangana bill for discussion in Lok Sabha.

The BJP has reiterated its unconditional support to the bill but asked the government to address its concerns including adequate compensation to Seemandhra and unbridled powers of the governor of the proposed states.

The government parleys came after Congress leaders from Seemandhra, including some ministers, met BJP veteran LK Advani demanding his party's support to seek adequate financial compensation for rest of Andhra Pradesh post bifurcation.

"We are in favour of Telangana but cannot disregard problems that will arise for Seemandhra," Advani said.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who is keen to see the passage of the bill in both Houses of Parliament in next two days, is likely to speak on the bill.

She also had chance interaction with BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu in Parliament during which she asked him if the BJP had changed its stand on Telangana.

She also deputed Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and rural development minister Jairam Ramesh to discuss and address issues raised by the BJP.

The two ministers held closed door meetings with BJP leaders Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and M Venkaiah Naidu.

Jaitley pointed out that provisions relating to powers of governor in matters relating to protection of residents of Hyderabad ' common capital for both states ' as mentioned in the Telangana bill, can't stand judicial scrutiny.

BJP leaders felt the bill that says the decision of the governor would be final in such matters, violates Article 163 of the Constitution. Governors are supposed to act on the aid and advice of the council of ministers.

For the first time, CPI(M) members also joined the protest against creation of Telangana. They were carrying placards opposing bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and demanding that the measure should not be adopted without a debate.

Members from Telangana region were also in the Well seeking early creation of the separate state. The home minister moved the bill for consideration amid uproar and din in the House over various issues.

Members belonging to various parties were also demanding passage of reservation in promotions and SC/ST sub-plan bill.

Speaker Meira Kumar tried to bring order in the House saying she has received notices of no-confidence motion and wanted to ascertain whether these are backed by 50 MPs. As the din continued, she adjourned the House till 3pm.

Earlier, as soon as Lok Sabha assembled for the day and Kumar paid tributes to a departed former MP Bheem Singh Patel, Congress members from Andhra Pradesh, including some central ministers, trooped into the Well.

They raised slogans to protest moves to carve out separate Telangana state.

Minister MM Pallam Raju stood in the aisle, while his ministerial colleague D Purandeshwari was in the Well.

AIADMK members were also in the Well protesting attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy.

Samajwadi Party's (SP) Shailendra Kumar, who too was in the Well, sought inclusion of some castes in the scheduled castes list while a member from Maharashtra demanded passage of SC/ST sub-plan bill.

The Speaker began the Question Hour but as the din continued, she adjourned the House till 12pm.

Ruckus in Rajya Sabha

In Rajya Sabha, TDP and AIADMK members rushed into the Well as soon as proceedings of the day started. TDP members were opposing bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, while AIADMK members referred to the plight of Tamil fishermen.

Holding placards, DMK members asked the Centre to move a resolution at UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) against Sri Lanka.

As chairman Hamid Ansari's repeated pleas for order went unheeded, he adjourned the House till noon minutes after the day's proceedings began.

In Rajya Sabha, TDP and Congress members were in the well shouting slogans for a united Andhra Pradesh, while Gundu Sudha Rani (TDP) carried a poster that Telangana bill be brought in Parliament.

Naresh Agrawal of the SP rose to draw the attention of the House for inclusion of some backward castes in the SC/ST Bill.

Both BSP and SP members trooped into the Well raising slogans in support of this demand.

Amid slogan shouting and uproar, two bills - the Wakf Properties (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Bill, 2014 and the Delhi Hotels (Control of Accommodation) Repeal Bill, 2014, were introduced. As the din continued, deputy chairman PJ Kurien adjourned the House till 2pm.