Arun Jaitley promises Andhra Pradesh political parties central assistance

The demand from Andhra Pradesh based political parties – the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) – for a special package for their state triggered a series of events that led to much of the Opposition boycotting the afternoon proceedings of the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday afternoon.

Opposition parties accused Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu of “muzzling” their voice and “murdering democracy” by not allowing its members to raise issues of urgent public interest.

Opposition members said the Chairman’s conduct in adjourning the House until 2pm, including doing away with the Question Hour that starts from 12pm, was undemocratic. They