Andhra assembly adjourned without debate on Telangana

Both houses of the Andhra Pradesh assembly were Thursday adjourned till Jan 3 without debate on the bill sent by President Pranab Mukherjee for formation of a Telangana state.

For the fourth day, no debate was possible on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 as the Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra) lawmakers stalled both houses opposing the state's break-up.

Speaker N. Manohar, who adjourned the assembly amid ruckus, announced that the house will meet again from Jan 3 for the second leg of the winter session ending Jan 23.

The first part of the session will be from Jan 3 to 10. After Sankranti holidays, the house will meet again from Jan 16.

The assembly, adjourned in the morning, re-assembled after 1.30 p.m.

As the Seemandhra legislators belonging to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSR Congress continued to shout slogans, the speaker adjourned the house.

The winter session, which began Dec 12, was to continue till Friday.

The bill for the formation of a Telangana state was tabled in both houses Monday after it was sent by the president, seeking the opinion of Andhra legislators. The bill has to be returned to the president by Jan 23.

Seemandhra TDP members wanted the speaker to send back the bill to the president without debate so that the state remains united. Their counterparts from the YSR Congress wanted the house to pass a resolution opposing the state's bifurcation.

Telangana legislators, irrespective of party affiliation, urged the speaker to allow the debate.

The legislators from both Seemandhra and Telangana are planning to meet President Mukherjee, who is arriving here Thursday evening for his annual presidential southern sojourn.

The legislative council was also adjourned till Jan 3 amid ruckus.

Speaking in the council, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy said there was no clarity on how the debate should take place.

He advised both the speaker and the council chairman to call a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee, if necessary, to set the procedure for the debate.

In his first comments in the legislature since tabling the bill, the chief minister said the issue was sensitive and such a bill was never discussed in both the houses.

"The debate should be within the framework of the constitution, and its rules and traditions. It should be without provocation, and all members should be careful about the language they use," Reddy said

"The sentiments of nobody should be hurt," added the chief minister, who is also opposing the bifurcation of the state.

Kiran Reddy cited instances of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar assemblies which suggested amendments in the bills meant to carve out Uttarakhand and Jharkhand states respectively.

TDP leader in the council Y. Ramakrishnudu took exception to the statement, saying Reddy should not direct the presiding officers on how to run the house.

Amid the pandemonium, council chairman A. Chakrapani adjourned the house.