Debate begins on Telangana Bill; House adjourned amid din

HYDERABAD: Hectic lobbying by ministers from Seemaandhra with legislators from the region paved way for initiating debate on the draft AP Reorganisation Bill-2013 in Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly this afternoon.

Following an assurance on the floor of the House by Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy that all information on the financial aspects of the draft Bill, sought by them, would be made available in two days, the Telugu Desam Party members returned to their seats and let Tourism Minister Vatti Vasanth Kumar start the debate.

However, the YSR Congress members remained in the Well of the House, raising slogans for a resolution against the bifurcation.

Even as the din continued, Vatti termed the draft Bill as "undemocratic and unconstitutional" and accused the Centre of trying to divide the state against the federal spirit.

At this stage, Telangana legislators rose to their feet at their respective seats and tried to raise a protest. Speaker Nadendla Manohar then adjourned the House till tomorrow.

Earlier in the day, the House saw two adjournments for an hour each as TDP and YSRC MLAs trooped into the Well, raising slogans against the proposed bifurcation of the state.

Barely three minutes after the day's proceedings began at 9 AM, the Speaker was forced to adjourn the House for an hour as legislators from Seemaandhra region and Telangana trooped into the Well raising slogans for a united and a separate state respectively.

The Speaker repeatedly appealed to the members to return to their seats and let the debate on the draft AP Reorganisation Bill-2013 be taken up.

"I have time and again been telling you to make use of the opportunity and take part in the debate. You can express your opinions and anguish in the debate," Manohar told the agitating MLAs and asked them to resume their seats.

"I have assured you that adequate time will be given to everyone to participate in the debate. If we waste House's time like this, it will serve no purpose. Make use of the given opportunity," the Speaker said.

Asking the legislators that they "must go back" to their seats, Manohar reminded them that they had even given up the Question Hour to enable debate on the draft Bill.

Amidst the slogan-shouting, the Speaker rejected the adjournment motions moved by TDP and YSRC on the state bifurcation issue and by CPI on the Palem bus mishap in which 44 persons were charred to death.

As the agitating members showed no mood to let the House run, the Speaker adjourned it for an hour.

Normalcy did not restore when the House reassembled after more than two hours, leading to the second adjournment for one more hour.

But subsequently things fell in place as the TDP relented and agreed to participate in the debate.