Amid high drama, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Thursday as an aggressive and united Opposition derailed the government move to suspend Congress and Telugu Desam Party members, whose protests against Telangana have crippled the House for days. Even as the protesting members trooped into the well raising slogans, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath moved a motion to suspend 10 members from Andhra Pradesh (six from the Congress and four from the TDP) who were opposing the announcement on carving a separate State out of their State.
“It is unfortunate that from the very first day [August 5] the House has not been able to run. I propose that the MPs be suspended till the end of the monsoon session,” Mr. Nath said, reading out their names.”
The BJP opposed the suspension move with Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj saying her party favoured creation of Telangana but it was “sad at the way the Congress announced its decision.” Amid uproar, Speaker Meira Kumar put the motion to voice vote but the entire Opposition, including the BJP, the Akali Dal, the Shiv Sena, the Janata Dal (United), the Left, the Biju Janata Dal and even the Samajwadi Party, opposed it.
In fact, as soon as Mr. Nath had stood up to move the motion, almost all members of the Opposition were on their feet, protesting. Even as members named for suspension tried to wrench microphones on the Speaker’s podium, the Chair adjourned the House till 12.45 p.m.
When it reassembled, commotion continued, leading to adjournment till Friday without the motion being adopted.Those named in the motion were K. Nimmala, K.N. Rao, M. Venugopala Reddy and N. Sivaprasad (TDP), A. Sai Prathap, A. Venkatarami Reddy, L. Rajagopal, M. Sreenivasulu Reddy, V. Aruna Kumar and G.V. Harsha Kumar (Congress).
