Telangana ministers protest against Reddy in Andhra assembly

In an unprecedented development Monday, ministers in Andhra Pradesh assembly surrounded the speaker's podium, demanding that the notice given by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Telangana be rejected.

Utter pandemonium prevailed, forcing Speaker N. Manohar to adjourn the house twice.

Ministers and legislators from Telangana trooped into the well of the house and surrounded Speaker N. Manohar, demanding that the notice given by the chief minister be rejected.

Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha and senior minister K. Jana Reddy, who hail from Telangana, also lodged their protest by standing near their seats.

The chief minister Jan 25 had given notice to the speaker seeking his permission to move a resolution to reject Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013.

Kiran Reddy, who is strongly opposing the state's bifurcation, wants the house to send back the bill to President Pranab Mukherjee with a request not to refer it to parliament.

The president had last month sent the bill to state legislature for its opinion under Article 3 of the constitution. The extended deadline for the legislature to respond is Jan 30.

As soon as the assembly met for the day, the legislators from Telangana moved into the well of the house, demanding that the speaker reject the notice.

Raising slogans of 'Jai Telangana', legislators alleged that the chief minister is trying to stall formation of Telangana.

This was countered by legislators from Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra) with slogans of 'Jai Samaikyandhra' (united Andhra).

Amid the din, the speaker adjourned the house for half-an-hour. After the house re-assembled, the ministers from Telangana continued their protest.

They alleged that the chief minister submitted the notice to the speaker without the cabinet decision and demanded that the speaker reject the same.

Repeated appeals by the speaker failed to restore the order. He adjourned the house again for an hour.

The legislative council was also rocked by protests from Telangana legislators.

Chairman A. Chakrapani adjourned the house for half-an-hour. Later, ministers from Telangana met the chairman and urged him to reject the notice given by Endowments Minister C. Ramachandraiah on the Reorganisation bill.