TRS stalls Andhra assembly for Telangana resolution

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) stalled the proceedings in the Andhra Pradesh assembly Tuesday, demanding a resolution for separate statehood for Telangana.

The assembly was adjourned for the day without any business as TRS members did not allow speaker N. Manohar to take up the listed business.

The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) also disrupted the proceedings, demanding that the government set up a steel factory near the Bayyaram iron ore mines in Khammam district of Telangana.

The speaker adjourned the house till Wednesday as the opposition legislators continued their protests near his podium after the house re-assembled following two adjournments.

Tuesday was the second day of the second phase of the budget session which began Monday.

The house was adjourned on the first day after paying tributes to a member who died in April.

As soon as the house met for the day, the speaker announced that he was rejecting the adjournment motions moved by TDP, TRS and other parties.

The TDP and TRS legislators were on their feet, insisting that the speaker take up the debate on the issues raised by them. They rushed to the speaker's podium to press their demand.

The speaker adjourned the house for half hour. When the house re-assembled, the opposition continued the protest.

Legislative Affairs Minister D. Sridhar Babu said the government was ready to set up a steel factory in Bayyaram. On Telangana, he said as the issue was in the hands of the central government, a resolution can't be passed in the house.

As the bedlam continued, the speaker adjourned the house for another half hour. When there was no change in the situation after the house assembled again, he announced adjournment of the house for the day.