TDP, YSR Congress workers burn copies of Telangana Bill

GUNTUR (AP): The chaos that marked the introduction of the bill that seeks to create Telangana state in the Assembly today had its fallout outside as well as TDP and YSR Congress workers staged protests to oppose the division of Andhra Pradesh.

Activists of main Opposition party Telugu Desam Party and Jaganmohan Reddy-led YSR Congress burnt copies of the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Bill, 2013 at separate programmes in the district.

TDP assailed Assembly Speaker N Manohar (elected from Tenali in Guntur district) for introducing the Bill in the House "in haste disregarding norms and precedents".

The Chandrababu Naidu-led party accused the ruling Congress of splitting Andhra Pradesh for political mileage.

Workers of YSR Congress staged a "rasta rokho" protest and accused Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, a strong votary of united AP, of doing a volte face on the Telangana issue and feigning illness to justify his absence in the House when the Bill was introduced.

Meanwhile, in Krishna district, a local leader of Seemandhra Political Joint Action Committee (JAC), which has been protesting against the proposed division, also slammed the Assembly Speaker for his conduct.

Kolanukonda Shivaji, Krishna District Convener of JAC, accused Manohar of indulging in partisan behaviour.

"How the Speaker can introduce a Bill without approval from the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Assembly?" he sought to know.

Talking to reporters at Vijayawada, Shivaji said the Speaker's action was unconstitutional and also against the traditions of the House.