Congress seeks PM Modi's assurance on special status for Andhra Pradesh

Since last Monday, YSR Congress members have been entering the Well of the Lok Sabha daily with placards and raising slogans

Against the backdrop of daily protests by YSR Congress members in Lok Sabha over special status for Andhra Pradesh, Congress on Monday sought an assurance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue, which was rejected by the Speaker.

On the sixth consecutive day, members of YSR Congress trooped into the Well raising slogans demanding special category status for Andhra Pradesh following the carving out of Telangana state.

Holding placards, they defied the Speaker who continuously urged them to return to their seats and not display the banners.

As the House was taking up Question Hour, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that the YSR Congress members are routinely raising the issue, thus disrupting the proceedings.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan agreed and said that she too has been urging them to return to their seats as they are blocking the view of other members.

Subsequently, Kharge said that the prime minister should come to the House and assure the agitating members as his predecessor Manmohan Singh had assured special category status for Andhra Pradesh.

However, the Speaker rejected the demand saying that "every now and then" calling the prime minister was "not necessary" as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had already made a statement on the issue.

Since last Monday, YSR Congress members have been entering the Well daily with placards and raising slogans demanding special status for their state.

In the first two days, members of Telugu Desam Party, an ally of the ruling National Democratic Alliance, too were participating in the protest by holding placards and raising slogans from the aisles. But thereafter, they stopped participating in the protest.