Eleven MPs from the Seemandhra region were on Monday suspended from participating in the parliamentary proceedings by the presiding officers of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for disrupting the proceedings. They had assembled in the Well of the Houses and shouted slogans in support of keeping Andhra Pradesh united thus forcing adjournments.
In the Lok Sabha nine MPs – five from the Congress and four of TDP – were suspended for creating “grave disorder” by Speaker Meira Kumar for five working days, in the Rajya Sabha, two TDP MPs were asked to withdraw from the House for the rest of the day’s proceedings by Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien as they trooped into the Well holding placards against formation of Telangana.
This is the second time such suspension has been ordered in the ongoing monsoon session as only last week 12 MPs in the Lok Sabha, all belonging to Seemandhra (eight from Congress and four from TDP), were suspended for the same reason. In the Rajya Sabha two TDP members from Seemandhra were suspended twice last week for one day on each occasion.
In Lok Sabha, some of the MPs had started attending the proceedings after the expiry of suspension period only to be suspended again on Monday.
Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day at 2 p.m. by Deputy Speaker Karia Munda after agitating TDP members did not heed to his request to withdraw from the House forthwith and allow its smooth conduct.
The suspended MPs were: Lok Sabha – N. Kristappa, M. Venugopala Reddy, K. Narayana Rao and N. Sivaprasad (all from TDP), and former union minister A. Sai Pratap, Anantha Venkatrami Reddy, L. Rajagopal, M. Srinivasulu Reddy and K. Bapi Raju (all Congress). Rajya Sabha – C.M. Ramesh and Y.R. Chowdhary (both TDP).
Due to the disturbances caused by the Seemandhra MPs, the Lok Sabha could not conduct its business and had to adjourn for the day after having an adjournment in the morning. However, the Upper House had its smooth business after having some disruptions in the morning.
