TDP member tries to uproot Chair’s mike, RS adjourned
The Rajya Sabha also witnessed pandemonium on Thursday with pro- and anti-Telangana supporters repeatedly storming into the Well of the House and TDP member CM Ramesh trying to uproot the microphone of the Chairman. The House could not function due to repeated adjournments before lunch and the Chair finally adjourned the proceedings for the day shortly after lunch at 2.00 pm.
Agitating members made their intentions clear as soon as the House assembled for the day at 11.00 am and anti-Telangana supporters rushed into the Well. AIADMK and DMK members also raised a din after coming into the Well with some AIADMK members tying black scarves around their eyes. Sensing the mood, Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the House till 12.00 pm at about 11.02 am.
Similar scenes were witnessed when the Upper House reassembled. TDP member CM Ramesh, who was protesting against the Telangana Bill, tried to uproot the microphone of the Chair. However, marshals prevented him from doing so and Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien was heard amidst the din, “Yes, you continue...If this is Democracy, you continue.” His remark after Ramesh said, “Is it democracy. The Telangana Bill has been introduced in the other House.” In the bedlam, members from TDP and Congress were seen roaming in the Well with placards displaying “We want Telangana” while Seemandhara members from the both the parties kept up their protest against any attempt to bifurcate the State.
AIADMK members, led by V Maitreyan, were seen blind folding themselves with black scarves while raising slogans “Save Tamil fishermen” and positioning themselves before the Chair. Kurien then adjourned the House till 2.00 pm. When the Rajya Sabha met again, some MPs from Seemandhara continued their protest standing in the Well shouting slogans: “We want united Andhra Pradesh” and “Save Andhra Pradesh.” MPs supporting Telangana too were in the Well seeking separate statehood. Unable to conduct business, Kurien then adjourned the House for the day.