Telangana Congress disrupts Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI It was the turn of Congress MPs from Telangana to join hands with TRS in forcing adjournment of the House on Wednesday. Congress floor managers were caught unawares as Telangana leaders trooped to the edge of the well, holding placards and shouting slogans in support of their demand after the House reassembled after the Question-Hour disruption.

Deputy Speaker Karia Munda, who was presiding over the proceedings, had no option but to adjourn Lok Sabha for the day in view of protests from the pro-Telangana members. With agitation for a separate state showing no signs of abating in Telangana districts, Congress MPs and MLAs from the region have been forced to go along with the popular mood.

To force their party leadership's hand on the issue, Congress MPs from the Telangana region went to the extent of submitting their resignations, which were eventually rejected by the Speaker earlier this week.

It was once against protests by TRS members, including their party chief K Chandrasekhara Rao and film actress Vijaya Shanthi (Medak), which triggered a chain reaction, forcing Congress and TDP members from the region to join in.

Shouting slogans such as "We want Telangana" and waving placards, they rushed to the edge of the well. The Congress contingent included Madhu Goud Yaskhi (Nizamabad), M Jagannath (Nagarkurnool), G Sukender Reddy (Nalgonda), Ponnam Prabhakar (Karimnagar), Rajaiah Siricella (Warangal), K Rajagopal Reddy (Bhoingir) and Balram Naik (Mahbubabad).

The TDP MP from Adilabad, Ramesh Rathod, too was forced to back the demand in the House. An embarrassed Congress was later in the day fumbling for answers to explain conduct of Telangana MPs.