TDP calls Andhra Pradesh bifurcation 'undemocratic', TRS fumes

The debate in the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha on Friday witnessed a war of words between Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Telangana Rashra Samiti (TRS) members after the former termed the process of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014 "undemocratic" and "unscientific".

Participating in the debate, TDP lawmaker Jayadev Galla said the residual state had been denied justice since "unscientific and undemocratic bifurcation" of Andhra Pradesh in 2014.

TRS lawmakers took a strong exception to Galla's comment and rushed to the Speaker's podium raising slogans "Jai Telangana".

They urged the Speaker to expunge the word "undemocratic".

TRS member Jithender Reddy questioned the usage of word "undemocratic" when Telangana state was created after the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, was passed in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Later, the lawmakers from both Telugu parties joined hands to raise their concerns over the special status to Andhra Pradesh issue being missed in the speeches of MPs on no-confidence motion.

They said the BJP member Rakesh Singh did not speak anything on the issue in his speech while Congress President Rahul Gandhi said just one line calling their demand "good".

TRS member Vinod Kumar Boianapalli said that "the motion is about Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. But no one has touched upon the issue".

Amid sloganeering, TDP member Naramalli Sivaprasad approached the Speaker's podium when he was stopped by BJP members Sharad Tripathi, Anurag Thakur, Nishikant Dubey and Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.

The stand-off led to a brief house adjournment.

Later, speaking on the motion, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh that the government had taken all possible measures in accordance with the Act but the special status could not be granted.

--IANS

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