17 Members from Andhra Pradesh have been suspended by the Speaker Meira Kumar for their alleged involvements in today's violent incidents in the House. Soon after, the House reassembled the Speaker read out the names of members for their suspension. The Lok Sabha could not transact any business even after it met at 2 pm following utter confusion in the House.
As usual, members from both regions of Andhra Pradesh trooped into the well. Speaker Meira Kumar started reading the names of the suspended members. Before she completed the reading of the list, TDP member from Seemandhra, K. Narayana was seen lying on the floor of the House. This caused panic among members who were clueless about his condition. Marshals immediately rushed inside and shifted the TDP member to the hospital. Following confusion in the House, the Speaker adjourned the House till 3 pm.
The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 12.30 pm on Monday.
Earlier the Lok Sabha witnessed unprecedented scenes of violent misbehaviour when pro and anti-Telangana members came to blows.
This was triggered by rumours that the government was introducing the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill in the House at noon. Soon after the House re-assembled at noon, members from both sides of Andhra Pradesh trooped into the well taking on each other physically.
Even before Speaker Meira Kumar could settle down to take up the listed business, members from Telangana region prevented TDP member from Seemandhra, M Venugopal Reddy from going close to the Chair. Reddy was seen breaking the table glass in the aisle where the Lok Sabha officials were on duty. Telangana members pounced on him, resulting in his fall on the spot.
Within no time, other members from Seemandhra came to his rescue. L Rajgopal of Congress rushed towards Venugopal Reddy and all of a sudden, started spraying pepper spray, randomly.
This instantly caused suffocation leading to severe breathing problem and eye-burn to many members and also media persons in the press gallery. As a result, members started leaving the house in a panic situation even before Speaker could adjourn the House.
Meanwhile, marshals instantly whisked Rajgopal away from the House. Later it was announced that the House was adjourned till 2pm. The Rajya Sabha which witnessed unruly scenes, was also adjourned till 2 pm.
In the Rajya Sabha, situation was no different. Soon after House reassembled after first adjournment, members from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu trooped into the well raising slogans in support of their demands. Anti-Telangana TDP members broke the mikes of the Chair. Deputy Chairman Prof P J Kurien allowed laying of papers in the din. He adjourned the House till 2pm as pandemonium continued.
Speaker Meira Kumar strongly condemned the incident in the Lok Sabha and said, the Indian democracy which is admired world over for its glorious traditions, has been marred by this unsavoury incident. The Speaker said, she will hold consultations with political parties in this regard.
The Ministers of State, Rajiv Shukla and RPN Singh also condemned the incident. They said that strict action will be taken against the members involved in violence in the House.
Senior BJP leader L K Advani termed the fracas in the Lok Sabha as disgraceful. Talking to reporters, Mr Advani said that he has been in Parliament since 1970 but never seen such incidents in its history. He added that in such chaotic conditions, the government should only go for a vote-on-account and nothing else.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj has described the incident as unfortunate and shameful and held Congress party and its government responsible for it.
Talking to reporters, she said it was part of a design to create pandemonium in the House so that some pending Bills can be pushed through. The BJP leader has also alleged that the Prime Minister's grip over his government has weakened and the incident demonstrates it.
She made it clear that her party will not talk to the government over the incident.
Telangana Rastra Samiti chief K Chandrasekhar Rao has demanded stern action against the Seemandhra MPs who created unprecedented ruckus in the Lok Sabha today over the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill.
Talking to the media after the incident, he said, the country has seen the behaviour of Seemandhra representatives and justified his party’s demand for a separate Telangana State.
