Chaos rules Andhra Pradesh Assembly over Telangana issue

HYDERABAD: Trouble broke out afresh in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly today over Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy's move to move a resolution in the House seeking to return the AP Reorganisation Bill-2013 to the Centre, terming it incomprehensive.

Proceedings of the House had to be adjourned for half an hour this morning as legislators from Telangana stormed the Speaker's podium demanding that the notice served by the Chief Minister for moving the resolution under Rule 77 be rejected. Simultaneously, members from Seemaandhra demanded that the resolution be taken up and voting conducted to reject the Bill. Both sides raised slogans, creating din in the House and forcing Speaker Nadendla Manohar to adjourn the proceedings for 30 minutes.

Earlier, on Saturday, the CM questioned the very validity of the Bill, saying it was violative not only of Parliamentary procedures but also the Constitution of India. Terming it incomprehensive, the Chief Minister said such a Bill could not be discussed in the Assembly. He subsequently issued a notice to the Speaker under Rule 77 to move a resolution in the House for returning the Bill to the Centre. The Telangana side has strongly opposed the CM's move while the Seemaandhra side welcomed it.