Parliament rocked by AP division issue

TDP members and Congress MPs opposed to Telangana walked into the Well and shouted slogans

Despite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s heartfelt appeal that no more time should be lost in disruption of Parliament and that enough time had been lost in the last two or three session, found little resonance in parliament today where protests against the creation of Telangana and calls for a separate Bodoland rocked bother Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, leading to their adjournment for the day.

'We want justice' chanted protagonists opposed to the division of Andhra Pradesh waving placards and the PM was seen engaging with many of them on the floor of the House to persuade them to let Parliament function. However, after several adjournments both houses were finally shut down for the day as noise levels rose.
 

A discussion is likely to take place in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost no time in telling the government that they should have taken a decision on the issue much earlier. 'The movement for Telangana has been one of the biggest mass movements in India in recent history. This movement has sustained itself for a long time. Government should have responded to it well in advance,' Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley told reporters. The BJP is supporting the bifurcation of Andhra pradesh.

'In the matter relating to the separate state of Telangana, the Constitution of India lays down a procedure for formation of new states. Besides, a number of substantive matters have to be addressed with the formation of new state. These matters are under consideration of the Government,' Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said in a brief statement in the Rajya Sabha. Deputy chairman PJ Kuren almost lost his patience when demands were made for the Home Minister to be present saying he was ill and was recuperating after surgery.



Chidambaram, who spoke after demands by MPs for a statement from the government and a debate on Telangana, said the Home Ministry will 'bring a comprehensive note for the Cabinet containing both substantive and procedural issues for the decision of the Cabinet.'

The issues, he said, 'will include, but (will) not (be) limited to, sharing of river waters, generation and distribution of electricity, safety and security of all residents of all three regions, guarantee of fundamental rights of all residents etc.'

He said once the Cabinet takes decisions on these matters, there will be an opportunity for the House to have a structured discussion on the subject.



'The government will welcome such a discussion at an appropriate time,' Chidambaram said.