Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Telangana Bill passed in Lok Sabha; live telecast suspended

Telangana Bill passed in Lok Sabha; live telecast suspended
Telangana supporters fix a banner outside Andhra Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photo: Pradeep Gaur/Mint
New Delhi: PTI :Liz Mathew :LIVE MINT :18 Feb 14
The Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill, 2014, was passed in the Lower House amid unprecedented chaos
The draft law that will bifurcate Andhra Pradesh and create Telangana as India’s 29th state was passed in Parliament on Tuesday with a voice vote.
The Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill, 2014, was passed in the Lower House amid unprecedented chaos, prompting the Speaker to suspend live telecast of the proceedings.
Earlier, Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the Lok Sabha twice as home minister Sushilkumar Shinde moved the controversial draft law amid rowdy protests by those opposed to the creation of Telengana.
The government’s success with the Bill came amid reports that the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, had decided to quit his post and the Congress party on Tuesday.
PTI quoted unnamed sources in the chief minister’s camp as saying Reddy is expected to meet governor E.S.L. Narasimhan around 3pm and submit his resignation.
In Parliament, unable to control noisy protests, Kumar first adjourned the House till 12:45pm and again till 3pm when Shinde tried to take up the Bill in the reconvened House.
Shinde managed to move the Bill at noon even as MPs belonging to the Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh, as well those from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), collected in the centre of the House protesting the proposed legislation.
Members of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a leading party in Tamil Nadu, also stood up demanding legislation to introduce quotas for scheduled castes for promotions in government jobs.
The Speaker said she couldn’t take up a no-confidence motion moved by some Seemandhra MPs as the House was not in order.
Sixteen MPs belonging to Andhra Pradesh were suspended last Friday after the house witnessed unprecedented chaos over the proposed bifurcation.
PTI contributed to this story.

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