Pandemonium in Rajya Sabha over Andhra Pradesh special status Bill

Hyderabad: Congress members on Monday created pandemonium in the Rajya Sabha demanding immediate taking up of a private member bill moved by Dr KVP Ramachandra Rao on according special status to Andhra Pradesh, resulting in adjournment of the House for the day.

Dy Chairman PJ Kurian refused to allow their demand citing rules and procedure and assured them that the bill will be taken up for consideration  on August 5. When the unrelenting Opposition continued its protests, the Dy Chairman adjourned the House to Tuesday without taking up any of the listed business of the day.

The Rajya Sabha had resumed its sitting on Monday, after ruling BJP-led NDA members interrupted the House proceedings last Friday, stalling the entire Private Members Business. The Congress party today demanded taking up the private bill first and remaining business later. Senior Congress members Anand Sharma, Digvijay Singh and Jairam Ramesh entered into an argument with the Chair that the rights of their member had been abrogated given the ruling party members’ undemocratic attitude last Friday.

Anand Sharma said they will not allow the House to take up any other business without taking up the private member bill first. However the Dy Chairman told the agitating Congress party members that he has to act as per the rules and procedures of the House and he cannot allow or revive Private Member Business on Monday, when the rules clearly stipulate it should be on Friday. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Opposition must know that Private Member's Business is taken up on Fridays.

Due to the protests that continued, the bill for compulsory afforestation could not be taken up. When the House met at 3pm after two adjournments earlier on in the day, the Dy Chairman adjourned the House for the day as there was no change in the situation.