Rajya Sabha adjourned over private members' bill on Andhra Pradesh

The Rajya Sabha was disrupted on Monday over a private member's bill on giving special status to Andhra Pradesh, which could not be taken up in the House on Friday due to pandemonium.

The protests stalled the post lunch proceedings and the bill for compulsory afforestation could not be taken up.

The Congress, which raised the issue on Monday morning as well, disrupted the proceedings post-lunch over the issue, with its leader Anand Sharma saying they will not allow business unless the Andhra Pradesh special status bill is discussed.

"It was done by design ... disrupt the House and do injustice to the state. Now we want the Andhra matter to be discussed officially. We will not discuss anything unless it is discussed," Sharma said.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, however, said the bill can be taken up only on Friday this week, as on that day the private members' resolutions would be taken up.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also said private members' bills cannot be taken up except on Friday.

Congress member Madhusudan Mistry, however, pointed out that there was a provision of changing the day for private members' business.

Congress' Jairam Ramesh slammed the government for "smuggling in" the bill on compulsory afforestation on Thursday after Congress had walked out of the House.

Kurien then gave a ruling and explained that the day for private members' bill cannot be changed immediately, and even if the process is initiated it will not mean the bill on Andhra Pradesh would be taken up immediately.

Congress members continued raising slogans, after which the house was first adjourned for 15 minutes, and then till 3 pm.

The scene was no different when the house met again at 3 pm and Kurien then adjourned the house for the day.