Assembly adjourned after ruckus over Telangana

The winter session of the House, which resumed on Friday after a two-week break, was expected to take up discussion on draft AP Reorganisation Bill-2013

The Andhra Pradesh Assembly was adjourned for the day amid din over Telangana issue as MLAs from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions remained firm on their demand that the Centre drop the move to bifurcate the state.

The winter session of the House, which resumed today after a two-week break, was expected to take up discussion on draft AP Reorganisation Bill-2013 referred to it by the President. However, the session was finally adjourned for the day at 12.35 pm as two earlier adjournments, first for 30 minutes and next for an hour, did not bring order as members belonging to Telugu Desam and YSR Congress parties surrounded the Speaker's podium holding placards and raising slogans demanding that the state be kept united.     

Speaker Nadendla Manohar rejected the adjournment motions moved by TDP and YSRC on the state division issue and sought to take up Question Hour. Though major industries minister J Geeta Reddy read out replies to the first listed question, the Seemandhra MLAs continued with their protest. Amid the din, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings for half an hour within five minutes after the session began at 9 am. When the House resumed after the first break, the same scene continued with TDP and YSRC members staying put in the well, raising ‘Samaikya Andhra’ and 'Save Andhra Pradesh’ slogans.

The Speaker put off all questions listed for the day and announced tabling of annual reports related to Singareni Collieries and Tirupati Urban Development Authority. As his appeal to members to return to their seats and let the House transact business fell on deaf ears, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings for an hour.

There was no let up in the situation when the House reassembled after the second break. The Speaker repeatedly requested the agitating members not to hold placards or posters and it would diminish the prestige of the House. As the Seemandhra legislators remained unrelenting, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.

Telangana paralyses services in Seemandhra

A day-long bandh called by United Andhra supporters, including TDP and YSRCP, against the draft Telangana Bill hit essential services in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema districts today, inconveniencing several citizens.

The winter session of the Legislative Assembly resumed today and the draft bill is on the agenda of the House.     Activists of TDP, YSRCP and Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers (APNGOs) Association and others held protests since morning at Vijaywada, Eluru, Tirupati and other places in the two regions of Andhra Pradesh. Schools, colleges, shops and other commercial establishments remained shut at many places in the Seemandhra region and the state-run Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation services were badly affected.  The bandh was called by the APNGOs, and supported by TDP and YSRCP among others.

Meanwhile, a group of Seemandhra Congress MPs began a fast at Indira Park here against division of Andhra Pradesh. The MPs sitting on the protest include L Rajagopal, Subbam Hari, G V Harshkumar, among others.