Naidu fails to resolve Andhra special status issue, RS adjourned till 2 p.m.

Rajya Sabha on Thursday witnessed pandemonium over the issue of special status to Andhra Pradesh even as the attempts to resolve the issue by Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu failed.

Soon after the house reassembled, members from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana across the party line raked up the issue of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and demanded a solution to the crisis.

In an attempt to resolve the issue, Naidu allowed the Union Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) member Y.S. Chowdhury to give suggestion over the demand of special status to Andhra Pradesh.

"If government is willing there are some issues of special status category. My request to the government is that if they can commit to resolve the issue in 15 days. The Finance Minister should address this concern in his reply to the budget speech," Chowdhury said.

Responding to the demand, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel assured that during the budget speech the Finance Minister will address the issue.

But some of the members including Yuvajana Shramika Rythu (YSR) Congress raised objections to the Chowdhury's remarks.

"TDP is an ally of BJP and part of the government which has approved the President's address. How can a minister differ from it now," YSRCP member Vijaysai Reddy said.

The Chairman then clarified that the minister had given suggestion to find out a solution.

"There is no constitutional misuse. If anyone wants to give suggestion he can give. A minister as a member of his political party can give suggestion. He has not protested but gave suggestions to resolve the issue," he said.

But the opposition members were on their feet and they continued with their protest.

Naidu then adjourned the house till 2 p.m, saying "You don't want a solution. I am adjourning the house."

Telugu Desham Party is an ally of the government and has been demanding special status for the Andhra Pradesh.

Earlier, when the house met for the day, it was adjourned till 12 p.m. after Congress members created a ruckus in the House over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks against Renuka Chowdhury's laughter.

Soon after the Zero Hour began, Congress members rose from their seats and started shouting slogans. Members from Andhra Pradesh were also seen raising the issue of special status for their state.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu asked the agitating members not to disturb proceedings of the House, but the Congress continued with their protests.

"It is totally unbecoming, undemocratic. Go back to your seats... You want the House to be adjourned?" he said and added: "I have no option other than to adjourn the house."

He then adjourned the House till 12 noon.

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister took a dig at Congress member over her loud laughter at his claim that the idea of Aadhaar was conceptualised during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

"Chairman Sir, don't stop Renukaji. Ever since seeing "Ramayana" serial, for the first time I have got an opportunity to see such a laughter," Modi had said, to a thumping of desks by the treasury benches.

--IANS

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