Squabble over Telangana stalls Parliament

Even an impassioned appeal by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari to allow a discussion on the death of a Northeastern student in Delhi fell on deaf ears.

K Chandrasekhara Rao, leader of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, along with other leaders outside Parliament in New Delhi on Wednesday. MPs disrupted the functioning of both Houses over the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday also. Photo: Rajeev Bhatt.

The row over bifurcating Andhra Pradesh disrupted proceedings in Parliament for the second consecutive day on Thursday, wit members from the State picketing the well in both Houses.

Apart from the tabling of papers scheduled for the day, no other business could be transacted in either House. Question Hour in both Houses was suspended soon after it was convened; zero hour was adjourned after the tabling of papers.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari’s impassioned appeal to allow a discussion on the death of a Northeast student in Delhi fell on deaf ears. “Can we not respect the dead even?” he asked as members created a ruckus to raise their own matters. While Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar called it a day after the papers were tabled, the Rajya Sabha met again post-lunch only to be adjourned almost immediately after members caused a ruckus.

Though the Telangana issue was the most divisive, members from Tamil Nadu made their presence felt by raising “save Tamil fishermen” placards.