Amid chaotic scenes and protests, a Bill to create Telangana State was presented in Andhra Pradesh legislative Assembly on Monday but the House could not discuss it as the anti-Telangana MlAs from Seemandhra regions stalled the proceedings and tore the copies of the Bill.
The Bill with 65 pages and 13 schedules seeks to divide Andhra Pradesh into Telangana and residuary State of Andhra Pradesh with Hyderabad as the joint capital of the two States for not more than 10 years.
The President of India had referred the Bill to both the Houses of the State legislature for its opinion without any voting. He has set a deadline of January 23 for the formalities to be completed by the AP legislature.
Pandemonium broke out in the House as soon as the Speaker announced the tabling of the draft Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 in the House. Secretary legislature Sadaram read out the important points of the Bill and legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu requested the Speaker for taking up the Bill for the discussion.
Angry MlAs from Seemandhra region, who are opposing the bifurcation of the State rushed to the podium of the Speaker and stood up on the tables of the Assembly staff shouting slogans. They wanted the tabling and the discussion of the Bill delayed till January. The members tore the copies of the Bill and threw it towards the Speaker’s chair amid strong protest from the pro-Telangana members as the region divide in the House came to the fore.
While the Telangana members wanted the Bill to be discussed right away and sent back to the President, Seemandhra members opposed it saying it was of no use to them as no voting was involved. Instead they demanded that the House should pass a motion in support of United Andhra Pradesh as majority of the members were against division.
Significantly, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who is also opposed to the bifurcation was absent from the House when the Bill was tabled. Officials said that Chief Minister was indisposed.
The turmoil continued even after Deputy Speaker Bhatti Vikramarka requested the leader of the Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu to start the debate on the Bill. When his repeated pleas to restore order in the House fell on the deaf ears, Deputy Speaker adjourned the House.
TDP MlA from Telangana E Dayakar Rao condemned the attitude of the Seemandhra members. He alleged that the YSRCP members from Seemandhra region tried to attack the Deputy Speaker. He demanded action against the members.
A similar situation prevailed in the State legislative council where the chairman Chakrapani tabled the Bill in the House. The Upper House witnessed unprecedented scenes of scuffles between the Telangana and Seemandhra members. The drama continued at the media point outside the council where Telangana Rashtra Samiti member Swamy Goud tried to stop Telugu Desam member from Andhra N Rajkumari from speaking to the media. At one stage both of them stood up on the table shouting slogans. In the melee Rajkumari fell down on the ground.
Telangana MlCs led by Yadav Reddy of Congress demanded action against the Seemandhra members who tore the copies of the Bill. “This is a breach of privilege of the House,” he said.
Tempers ran high outside the Assembly also where the Seemandhra members burnt the copies of the bill evoking a strong reaction from the Telangana members. Some Telangana members tried to rush towards their opponents in a menacing manner and the police had to intervene to prevent any direct clash between them.
While speaking to the reporters at the media point, Telugu Desam member D Umamaheshwar Rao tore the copy of the Bill.
TRS floor leader E Rajinder strongly condemning the behaviour of the Seemandhra members warned of serious consequences. “The dignity of the House should be safeguarded,” he said. Criticising the opponents of Telangana for tearing the copies of the Bill, he warned them of serious consequences.